Are You a Leader or a Laggard?

Every blog post I write is designed to make you think in new ways. Today, I am really going to challenge you. First, if you're a printing or promotional products company executive who is running things smoothly, leading and making money, then maybe this post isn't for you. For the rest of you, listen up. Do any of you spend time leading your organization? Not running it. Not putting out fires. Not managing it day-to-day. But truly leading it. Do you have a vision for the future and a plan of how to get there, because an idea without a plan is just that—an idea.

Here is what I often observe in our industry. Many top-level people focus on day-to-day survival. Is survival important? Of course. Times are tough and competitive. However, this is not a strategy, but simply a temporary Band-Aid. I hear executives say things like, "We don't know what we want to do," "We don't know where we want to go," or even, "We don't know where to begin." On the other hand, they are spending time on things that are not productive or trying to "pick off" salespeople from other companies. Not good. In addition, executives tell me that they are drowning, buried, covered up, swamped, slammed, in the weeds, up to their eyeballs, running ragged. Well, you get the idea. Also, not good.

So, again, is there anyone out there who is running a company in this industry—or related ones—who wants to become a better leader? A leader who desires to create a vision and passionately help his or her company and team grow in an exponential manner? Is there someone who wants to understand how traditional media and digital media are different, yet intersect to create amazing opportunities? Is there a person who wants to really understand what sales are about in 2015 and beyond? And finally, is there a person who also wants to learn what is expected in marketing in our new world?

Are you out there? The great executives I work with are planning for 2016 and beyond; they are not struggling with what to do in the afternoon. They operate as business people, not just "printers" or "promo product resellers." I told you this was going to be tough. So, I ask: Where are you? Where do you want to go? Do you want to grow? Life is a journey. The choice is yours. You have 168 hours in a week. What do you do with them?

If you feel like you are drowning and buried, the question then becomes this: Will you step up to this challenge and learn something new and find a way to make this happen, or find an excuse of why you don't have time? Leaders look up. Leaders look forward. Leaders find a way. Leaders make things happen. So, are you a leader or a laggard?

More at RyanSauers.com or @RyanSauers