There are 20 more business days in August.  Now is the ideal time to finalize your strategy and schedule for a strong 4th quarter and leap into 2015 growth.  What are the key areas to focus on?

Here are some common choices:

1. Sales push through networks, referrals, events, and marketing
2. Service delivery improvement 
3. P&L analysis to build on strengths and remove weaknesses

What about LEADERSHIP?  What about employee engagement?  What about developing more of an Ownership Culture?

None of the 3 common objectives above will achieve their maximum potential unless you first or simultaneously invest time on improving your 3strands LEADERSHIP systems to better engage employees so they think like owners.

Therefore your time, energy and resource investment in becoming better leaders of a stronger company culture is more important than the 3 efforts above.  It does not replace them, but stronger leadership and culture significantly increase the upside of your success.

It is like Abraham Lincoln said, "Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe."

A "dull" culture led by leaders who are not as "sharp" as they could be is rarely going to win against competitors who invest in people first and activities second.

P.S.  Don't forget, our final two LEADERSHIP Essentials Academies are in Belmont, New Hampshire on September 11-12 and in San Rafael, California on October 2-3.  Don't miss this opportunity to work with me in-person.  Learn more here or click here to grab a seat before its too late.

It is Monday.  ACCOUNTABILITY TIME!  

1. Did you take Sanctuary time over the weekend to improve your focus?
2. How did you do on your 3Strands last week?
3. Have you defined your 3Strands for this week?
4. By 9:00 a.m. this morning you should have 3Strands emails from each of your direct reports.

Stay on track.