Greetings! The height of summer is always an interesting time for any business, with vacations, long weekends, and beautiful weather conspiring to put projects off, delay timelines, and postpone or cancel meetings. But the downtime that might appear in your schedule is the perfect opportunity to apply a lesson in fitness, brought to us from the soccer pitch. I had the pleasure of a quick trip to Montreal earlier this summer to see some of the FIFA Women's World Cup. The strength and grace of all these athletes is inspiring, and this year belonged to the U.S. women's team, which outscored opponents 14-3 in winning the Cup. Every successful team has talent, but as Bill Saporito notes at Inc.com, success is a matter of hard work, the right players, the right plan, and being flexible enough to change gears quickly and on your own terms as needed. So before a shuffling summer gives way to a frenetic fall, take time to examine your own team. Do you have enough offense? That is, do you have the right managers to lead your organization, and to take advantage of market opportunities? Have you recruited the best talent available? Do your players know the rules? Make sure key personnel are up-to-date on certifications, inspections are complete, and team members know the complexities of the laws and regulations that govern your organization. And don't neglect your defense! Competence is great, but every company needs a crisis plan to handle the unexpected. Do you have yours? Are key personnel familiar with it? And are they trained in how to deal with the media? You may not be competing for a world title, but success in business demands fitness. Stay well, enjoy the summer, and use this time to make sure your team is in top form for the seasons ahead.
David Ball, President
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