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Questions lead to success

Management guru, Peter Drucker, is reported to have said that there are only two questions which you need to answer to build a successful business. The first is 'What business are you in?' and the second is 'How's business?'.

Knowing what business you are in helps keep your energy and efforts directed at the things which count. It should guide all your sales and marketing initiatives as well as help you identify and plan for any future issues or opportunities.

Measuring and monitoring the true status of all your business activities is the only way to answer the second question, and the only way to determine your success, or otherwise.

Third question critical

My work with large and small organisations, however, has shown there is a third question which is just as important: What are you going to do about it?.

You see it is not knowledge itself, but how knowledge is translated into action which leads to results.

While the first two questions are important, it is what you intend to do about the answers they generate which is critical to the success and development of your business.

Although these three questions might seem simple, answering them can be far from easy. Taken together, the answers form a basic strategic business plan which has the power to focus your efforts in the most productive direction.

Plans work. Developing an effective plan should be a priority for any business, and indeed anyone, seeking results.

© Kerrie Mullins-Gunst
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