St. Patrick’s Day is a hallowed tradition here at HindSite. We love our city, and St. Paul is never as much fun as it is during a St. Paddy’s Day celebration. Over the years we’ve developed a bit of a strategy when it comes to making the most of this phenomenal day in our city. It consists of a few core principles that are universal to both celebrations and your service business management… because you should be having fun either way, right?
#1 Teamwork matters
You need a solid team to hit the streets with. We have The Boss (leading the way), The Second (taking care of the crew), and The Crew (to carry the day). Take out any role, and it’s not the same. You have the most fun (whether in the pub or on the jobsite) and get the most done (mostly at the jobsite) when the team works together.
#2 Have a plan
We have a route – we start at the bar in our very own building, and progress in a mostly rational fashion. It changes a little bit from year to year, sometimes moment to moment, but everyone knows the route on that day. It means we all know what’s coming next – what the goal is – and, more importantly, we communicate how to get there. As literal as that is, for your business you need goals AND a plan. And, interestingly, having a plan actually allows for a more flexibility: detours are part of life, but if you know where the team is moving, you can adapt to changes and still stay on course.
#3 Be wary of risk
Tequila is not Irish, which is a nice way of saying that shot is not a good idea. You’re in it for the long haul, you have goals, and you have a plan. You are part of a team. So despite the tempting offer, don’t forget about the rest. Can you still find the next stop? Will you be able to contribute? Or will you be dragging the team down with a bad choice?
#4 Finish strong
You came, you saw, you conquered. You had a bloody good time. Now it’s time to recover and get ready for the next big day. “Finish strong” doesn’t mean going all out till you wipe out. It means accomplishing your goals, and getting ready for the next challenge. For me that meant two little kids looking forward to pouncing on their daddy at 0600 the next morning, a challenge I wanted to be ready and willing to accept.
You see? It translates better than you might have expected. And, to close the post out, I leave you with my favorite Irish toast:
“May you be in Heaven a full half-hour
before the Devil even knows you’re dead.”