The Three Essences of Confident Direction

This economy, political environment, the employment situation, and--the outlook for the future--both that of our companies and of ourselves--cause some fairly radical self-questions to emerge.

And so I propose three filters be used for a "thin slice" response to where you stand.

#1 Follow Your Gut. There is no mistaking that "your gut" telegraphs the right decisions to you. Don't know what to do on an issue? Follow your gut. It's that tingling, sometimes raw-gut feeling that beckons to you. Follow it. Your gut instinct is almost always right.

#2 Take Care of Number One. That means so many things to so many different audiences: the company; the family; the individual; the self. The most seasoned veterans of our economy today were to first to cut employees, downsize and eliminate branch locations, and adjust their businesses to the new economic reality. So whether you are wresting with laying off 20 or 200 employees to keep "#1 afloat," or if you are contemplating closing your company so that you can walk away as unscathed as possible--take heed of this advice: Take care of number one. I do not take away anything from the noble ethic and desire of the most devoted of you. I simply shine a light of reality your way to make sure your emotion or pride is not driving your thinking to extreme.

#3 Change the Rules Until You Win. This I can't underscore enough. Take "out of the box" to a whole new level. Do not let yesterday's realities be today's realities. Think out of the box and do something you would have never thought of doing before. Change customer bases, change who you work for, change the way you "show up and suit up," or change the way success is measured. Change your services. Deliver a new value that never existed. Change the rules until you can win.

Follow your gut. Take care of number one. And change the rules until you win.