“Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of intelligent effort.” – John Ruskin
For many entrepreneurs, the temptation is to fixate on the end results – the sales figures, the user numbers, or the profit margins. Yet, what often separates successful businesses from those that struggle is not merely the results they achieve, but how they achieve them.
A real-life example of this comes from Pixar, the award-winning animation studio. Their consistent production of successful movies isn’t just down to creative genius. It’s the result of a painstakingly refined process. From their Braintrust meetings, where candid feedback is encouraged, to their “fail early, fail fast” approach to idea development, their processes have been designed to nurture creativity and stifle mediocrity.
As an entrepreneur, focusing on your processes can have multiple benefits. Firstly, it reduces reliance on individual heroics or lucky breaks. When you have a reliable process, success becomes more predictable and less of a roll of the dice. Secondly, it encourages a culture of excellence. When everyone is aligned and knows what to expect and what’s expected of them, it fosters accountability and high standards.
Action Step: Evaluate a key process in your business. Where is there room for improvement? How can you make the process more efficient, consistent, or conducive to quality results?
By focusing on perfecting your processes, you can create a well-oiled machine where every part, every person, every action contributes to your overall success. And remember, process refinement isn’t a one-time task. It’s a continual journey towards operational excellence.
For a more profound exploration of the significance of process and its influence on business success, take a look at our book of the week: “The Toyota Way” by Jeffrey K. Liker.