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Enough Is Enough Strategies for Change

Written by: Stefan Doering

Article Overview: Obama scolds Wall Street last week for giving themselves $18.4 billion in bonuses, the same amount they gave themselves in 2004 when the economy was quite strong. Many of these bonus-hungry firms are the same ones that have recently been in front of Congress with their hats in their hands looking for bailout funds. How do you know when it is time to change strategies, end the run. With recent spot light on Wall Street Greed, shines the light on a basic human characteristic[Money and Power], and can wreak havoc on our lives as well as others when left unchecked. Here are the basic five components to knowing if you’ve had enough:

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Enough Is Enough Strategies for Change

It is rare I feel deep disappointment in my fellow New Yorkers. This past week was one of those times.

First, Obama scolds Wall Street last week for giving themselves $18.4 billion in bonuses, the same amount they gave themselves in 2004 when the economy was quite strong. Many of these bonus-hungry firms are the same ones that have recently been in front of Congress with their hats in their hands looking for bailout funds.

Then we had John Thain, the now former CEO of Merrill Lynch and rapidly becoming the icon for Wall Street greed, being nailed for billing shareholders for $1million in his office renovations, including an $87,000 area rug. Next there was Citigroup’s last-minute cancelled order for a $50 million 12-seater corporate jet, paid in part by taxpayer bailout dollars.

And of course don’t forget the now infamous “Talented Mr. Madoff”, as the New York Times referred to him, and his estimated $50 billion scam.

Now while all of these examples are quite extreme, they shine the light on a basic human characteristic. And they can wreak havoc on our lives as well as others when left unchecked.

The key difference with these guys and most of us is they went completely unchecked and possibly in Madoff’s case, completely off the deep end.

So then, how do you know when it is time to change strategies, end the run (because it was either successful or you’re just not making it happen), or keep working it forward?

Here are the basic five components to knowing if you’ve had enough:

1.

Purpose—Get clear on why you are doing what you are doing. Is it just to make money (in business) or is there a higher goal in mind?
2.

Exit Strategy—In business it is extremely helpful to know when you are exiting the business. Examples: when we grow the business to $10M annually in sales, when I turn 65, when we go public, when I find a partner to take over, etc.
3.

Boundaries—this is very helpful for keeping things in check. How far are you willing to go with certain things? For example, how much money will you spend or how much time will go into making things happen, or how much debt are you willing to take on?
4.

Stop Limit—what is your threshold trigger mechanism? It prevents you from losing too much investment of time, money, etc. The term is used in investing in the stock market: when the stock you own hits a certain price it is automatically sold, automatically limiting your losses. Examples: I will invest (or loan) the business no more than $50K of my own money or this new product line must generate a minimum 10% net profit within six months.
5.

Accountability—Often times we cannot and do not hold ourselves accountable to what we know we should or will do. Often times we cut corners, sneak things in that are not in our (or the planet’s) best interest. Usually that is what board of directors, advisors, mastermind groups and coaches are for in business. Who will keep you in check?

Setting up these five components to knowing when to say enough is enough will help you to stay calm when things get crazy. As a form of insurance, it is there to protect you from doing things you might deeply regret in the future.



Action Steps for the Week:

Define, redefine or visit the purpose of your business or career. To what end are you doing what you are doing? What do you want it to provide you with? Most likely money is part of that answer. How much? What else is involved with the purpose of what you are doing? What difference are you making for others in process? For the planet?

Then define when you will leave the business or your career. How far are you willing to go to make your purpose a reality? What boarders are you not willing to cross?

And lastly, who will hold you accountable and keep you in check from yourself?

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Home > Going-Green > Stefan Doering > Enough Is Enough Strategies for Change
Article Tags: 50 million, area rug, bailout, business examples, citigroup, corporate jet, disappointment, exit strategy, goal in mind, havoc, john thain, madoff, merrill lynch, new york times, new yorkers, obama, office renovations, scolds, talented mr, wall street greed

About the Author: Stefan Doering
RSS for Stefan's articles - Visit Stefan's website

Hi, my name is Stefan Doering.  Since 1987, I’ve been pioneering new approaches to environmental business and sustainability.  After having started one of the first green retail businesses in the country and growing it to one of the largest, I now have coached hundreds of green businesses as well as teach green entrepreneurism for various NYC programs and at Columbia University's Center for Environmental Research and Education.  I focus on three major areas:

1) Innovating powerful green business models,

2) Crafting and implementing marketing and positioning strategies for bringing green to mainstream, and

3) Creating a consistently profitable and sustainable business.

Click here to visit Stefan's website
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