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Welcome to the
Next Step Solutions E-Newsletter!
 Dear Margaret,
It is Friday
afternoon and the sun is shining. I confess that my mind is trying hard
to wander. Our summer has been unusually wet this year, but we are
finally seeing a little sun as it begins to wind down.
So, on such a day, Friday no less, why am I typing away on
our newsletter? Because I have business insight and news to share that I
trust you will find interesting and potentially useful. I promise to keep
it short this month, a Reader's Digest version, in honor of the best of
our summer days.
Enjoy the upcoming week and the holiday weekend! It is truly
ironic that Labor Day, a holiday honoring "labor", would be a
day when we are almost universally pursuing leisure!
by Margaret
Purvine
 We are delighted to report that our
article, "Translating your dream into the business reality",
has just been published in the Puget Sound Business Journal. You will
find it on page 30 of the August 17-23 issue, the print edition. Print
subscribers can also view the article online by surfing over to thePSBJ
web site.
Here are a couple of short excerpts to pique your interest!
Excerpt #1: A long time ago, a client asked, "how do you
run a business?" We replied, "Running a business is just like
sailing to Maui." "Sailing to Maui?" "Yes. Think
about it. You have a new sailboat and want to get to Maui. How do you
proceed? You know your destination, right? Your goal is getting to Maui..."
Excerpt #2: Our experience has consistently shown that far
greater success can be achieved, in business and in life, if you resolve
to define your dream and take purposeful action to achieve it. Let's see
if we can sail a business to Maui.
by Margaret
Purvine
 Our new Next Step blog, BusinessInWashington.com,
is moving right along! We've added a number of posts since our last
newsletter. Here are some samples to whet your appetite. Don't forget to
post your comments and share your ideas!
Finding
Inspiration in Tough Times
There is a great article in the Wall Street Journal (in the Startup
Journal section) today - "Recommended Reading for Inspiring
Leadership." The writer, Dana Mattioli, makes the point that being a
successful entrepreneur means finding the strength and wisdom to overcome
obstacles and persevere. The article lists a number of sources others have
found inspiring, including books, movies and a web site. I couldn't agree
more with this premise! Building a new business is sometimes a roller
coaster, with serious highs and lows. We all need ways to defeat the lows
and keep climbing. more....
Leadership:
Culture Flows from the Top
I really enjoy the Wall Street Journal and read as much as I can in the
limited time available. I have particularly enjoyed many of Carol
Hymowitz's columns. The new one, published just today, is "New CEOs
May Spur Resistance If They Try to Alter Firm's Culture". She talks
about the "roller coaster of changes" that usually follows a
change at the top. Her main point is this: "New leaders typically
reshape their senior executive team and the company's growth strategies.
The most wrenching adjustment occurs when a CEO changes the corporate
culture - the core values and ways of doing things that bind people to
their jobs." Ms. Hymowitz illustrates her points with several
examples culled from large corporations. I am reminded of my own
experience at IBM during the "wrenching adjustment" (to use Ms.
Hymowitz's excellent choice of words) of the early 90's. more.....
Free Resources
from Next Step
Never tell people
how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with
their ingenuity - George Patton
In matters of style, swim with the current; In matters of
principle, stand like a rock. - T. Jefferson
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