Why Every Company Should Write Its Own Obituary

Why Every Company Should Write Its Own Obituary Why Every Company Should Write Its Own Obituary Why work? The reasonable response might once have been to make money, and for some thats still true. But as our economy has evolved and work options have proliferated, the answer has changed for a growing majority of people. These days, many of us want more than just a paycheck.To find, keep, and motivate great talent, businesses leaders must identify and share with the world why working at their organization is about achieving something more, together. Thats your companys purpose, the a grand vision of why your organization exists beyond making money.Why dont more companies get clear about why they are in business? Because of the nearly inescapable gravity of traditional economic theory. Whole Foods CEO John Mackeys quote, You cant live if you dont eat, but you dont live to eat. And neither does business exist primarily to make a profit. It exists to fulfill its purpose, whatever that m ight be, was uttered in protestof the conservative economist Milton Friedmans famous proclamation, There is one and only one social responsibility of business - to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits so long as it stays within the rules of the game.Unfortunately, many business leaders still think like Friedman, and its easy to see there is no role for purpose in this ancient worldview. Dont frage for it. Companiesthat short the circuitry of modern business by skipping the employee are doomed to customer backlash and long-term failure.Answering the Big QuestionsConvinced purpose is important? You arent home free yet. During the past decade of doing this work, Ive found the biggest challenge nearly every executive team must face is internal Its their inability to let go of the fruchtwein immediate and pressing parts of the business.I get it. Rolling out the new product update and hitting quarterly financial goals are important. It can be scary to put that work down for even a day. But finding a companys purpose isnt about this quarter, or even this year it requires taking the long view. Imagining what doesnt exist is hard, but thats exactly what you must do to discover your purpose because its your future.How might the world be different because of your company? Step back and ask your team, Why does this company matter? Why will it be remembered? Im not asking for realism. We get enough of that. Instead, Im asking you to think big.When you are attempting this work, my advice is to not get bogged down in the specifics. Go far, as fast as possible. To find your purpose you may need to go 25, 50, 100 years in the future.Think you cant do it? I disagree. This obituary exercise has helped many leadership teams stretch their brains in the right direction, and Im certain it can help you, too.Write Your Companys ObituaryWhy write an obituary for your organization? By imagining the organization is dead, leaders and executives who are usually consumed with the details are given permission to let go of the minutia. With day-to-day concerns out of the way, you have room to think bigger.Heres the overview 25 years from now your company has ceased to operate. Dont get bogged down in how it happened. That part doesnt matter. What does matter is putting on paper why the company will be remembered. Answer in3-5 short paragraphs questions like What were your companys greatest accomplishments? How did it change the world? By framing the obituary in this way, we dont need to be concerned about the profitability, only the companys impact.Hint Dont let reality get in the way. Think bigger than you might be comfortable with. Im giving you permission to write ridiculous, unlikely outcomes. Ive been in the room with fintech executives who wrote about how their startup solved global poverty, with a biotech team that eradicated all disease, and an enterprise technology services group who determined they helped establish the f irst colony on Mars.The value of this magical thinking is not in the ends, but in the words and phrases you and your team use to get there. Once youve written and presented your obituaries, ask everyone to identify the words, concepts, or phrases that were fruchtwein compelling, the things that stood out or gave them goosebumps. Below are detailed instructions so you can get started with your team.InstructionsSplit workshop participants into three or four teams. No team should have more than five members.Instruct each team to work together to write the first draft of their obituary. They should end up with3-5short paragraphs that include only the most important details. Hint Bulleted lists dont work nearly as well as complete sentences. Dont let anyone go that route. (Time 30-45 minutes)Ask each team to make final edits and then transpose their entire obituary by hand onto the large sticky pad. Yes, they must write it out. And yes, they must put it up so everyone can see. (Time 30 m inutes)Invite one person from each team to read back the obituary. (Time 20 minutes)Once all teams have presented, pass out the dot stickers. Each person will place the stickers next to the words and phrasesthey find most compelling or relevant. Each person gets 6-8 dots and can vote on anything, includingtheir own obituary. You can even put multiple dots on one idea if it seems particularly important. (Time 15 minutes)Once everyone has used all their stickers, ask one person to tally up the votes and mark the words and phrases that were most popular. (Time 10 minutes)As a group, discuss what you notice and what it might mean for the purpose of the organization. Talk about what got the most votes and why. Look for patterns. Are there any common themes? What stands out? What was expected or unexpected? (Time 30 minutes)What is your organizations reason for being? Finding your companys purpose isnt going to make work easier, but it will provide more clarity to help leaders make hard d ecisions, more meaning to help employees do their jobs with more energy, and more value to help customers choose your brand more often.Josh Levineis theauthor of Great Mondays How to Design a Company Culture Employees Love. He is best known as the cofounder of the nonprofit CULTURE LABx.

Customize this Outstanding Financial Reporting Analyst Resume Sample

Customize this Outstanding Financial Reporting Analyst Resume SampleCustomize this Outstanding Financial Reporting Analyst Resume SampleThere are few industries as competitive as the financial sector, and the mora specialized your position is within it, the tougher things get when its time to look for a new position. Thats because the more skilled a job is, the rarer it is, so small talent pools do notlage necessarily lead to better chances. Instead, it takes a competitive resume, and creating one takes time and patience, as well as resources like this financial reporting analyst resume sample. Use it to help shape your resume as you select your accomplishments and work to complete your document so you can sharpen your results. Using the resume builder is a great way to organize your work as you move through the next draft of your resume, too.Create Resume Roberto Cabeca100 Broadway LaneNew Parkland, CA, 91010Cell (555) 987-1234example-emailexample.comProfessional SummarySkilled Fin ancial Reporting Analyst studied in preparing and presenting documentation that reports on corporate financial standing. Exceptional knowledge and experience with GAAP and financial gathering practices and strong background in relevant databases and software. Able to operate independently and work with management, employees, regulators and auditors.Core QualificationsIncome and expense analysisAccount reconciliationRegulatory reportsShareholder reports and balance sheetsFinancial statementsSEC filingsInternal auditsStrong communication skillsExperienceMarch 2007 to PresentAmble Amble Unlimited, New Cityland, CAFinancial Reporting Analyst Managed extensive coverage of revenue forecasts during the companys preparation and transition to becoming a public company.Write, edit and review monthly expense and revenue forecasts.Compile and analyze financial data utilizing financial software.Create financial models using Excel for presentation at monthly department heads conference.Created s preadsheets for expense tracking and reporting.March 2002 to February 2007Masterson Solutions Unlimited, New Cityland, CAFinancial Reporting AnalystWorked with Accounting to develop schedule for reporting revenue forecasts.Trained and certified in needed software platforms in anticipation of the integration of reporting systems into a single platform.Reviewed and distributed monthly expense reports.EDUCATION2002 University of California, New Cityland, CABachelors of Science, AccountingCustomize ResumeWhy Is This a Good Financial Reporting Analyst Resume Sample?If you are wondering why the sample is so great, consider each part and what it does to help shape the flow of the whole. Not only does the financial reporting analyst resume sample fit into all the formal requirements of the genre by managing its items with concise bullet points and active language, it also presents a strong case for the qualifications of the candidate through the content it fits into that form. By selecting specific skills that relate to the technological and knowledge-based requirements for the job and ordering them to focus on those skills that are most vital to the position, the candidate puts the information a hiring manager looks for in places where its easy to find.On the stylistic side, keeping those skills concise and focused on the specifics also makes it easier to process them fast. This makes it more likely the hiring manager will continue reading to the work experience section quickly, naturally, and with an ease that allows him or her to take in your accomplishments and tie them to your skills intuitively. The financial reporting analyst resume sample keeps that flow moving nicely by using active verbs to push the action forward on every bulleted accomplishment under each position. Notice how the candidate has selected the positions that are the most relevant ones to the job. Moonlighting gigs, stopgap employment, and jobs that dont fit the career field do not have a place on a professional resume.When these moves come together, it is easy to see how the day-to-day application of those core skills leads to great results for your employers. This, in turn, makes you appear more interesting to hiring managers looking for people to call in for an interview. It does take time to revise to the point where these elements all work together, so budget time to edit.Why You Need a Strong Financial Reporting Analyst ResumeIts not just that the financial industry is competitive having a strong and highly tuned resume is about more than just being the most attractive candidate. The fact is, companies need a certain minimum skill set for specific positions, and the resume writing process is your chance to showcase exactly what your qualifications are. That means you will not only be making the case that youre the best candidate, you will be laying the groundwork for your employers understanding of your capabilities. At the minimum, that means showing that you meet all the requirements for jobs with a challenging skill set. A first-class resume, though, can also make you out to be a clear candidate for a career track, not just a job. Thats why it is important to use tools like the financial reporting analyst resume sample to groom your resume before submission.Costly Financial Reporting Analyst Resume Mistakes To AvoidThere are a few mistakes that will undermine a resume right away. Among them are obvious issues that you already know to be on the lookout for just because of common sense. Things such as keeping your resume free of spelling errors and using consistent formatting are important, but there are also mistakes that are specific to your industry that can set you back. Those include moves such as leaving off credentials, certifications, or licenses that either the skills or education sections should cover.Make sure you use the financial reporting analyst resume sample as a guide so you can keep your resume well-groomed and concise. That way, you will avoid the costly mistakes that might make your resume land in the reisepass pile. You also want to make sure you include key skills whether or not they appear on the job description, including your quantitative reasoning and any software proficiencies that make you well-prepared for the job.ConclusionYour resume is more than just a document you use to apply for jobs, its an introduction to your skill set, attitude, and professional orientation. Its important to make it specific enough to really reflect those things while keeping your eyes on the skills prospective employers need to see to understand how well you fit the position, as in the financial reporting analyst resume sample.

7 Things You Should Start Doing Today to Be Successful Tomorrow

7 Things You Should Start Doing Today to Be Successful Tomorrow 7 Things You Should Start Doing Today to Be Successful Tomorrow We know if we want to achieve something, we have to do something. But maybe the actions you take aren’t getting you the results you want. So, here are seven things you should start doing for yourself today, because they’ll give you the success you want tomorrow. 1. Start Taking Ownership Most people have excuses, or need to blame others when things aren’t working out. But, true success happens when we take responsibly and don’t make excuses, when we’re accountable for our actions and don’t blame others, and when we say, “If it’s going to happen, it will happen because I made it happen.” Excuses will always be there for you, but opportunities won’t. 2. Start Being More Focused If you want to succeed, you have to stop being distracted by everything around you and be more focused on what you want to achieve. Your distractions are wasting your time, and keeping you from being focused. Embrace tunnel vision to do what you have to do and get it done. When you focus on what you want, everything else falls away. Stay focused on whatever you want to do, and don’t doubt yourself. Focus means we have to follow one course until we’re successful. Stop getting distracted by the things that have nothing to do with your goals. Related: 8 Things Successful People Do Every Day That Most People Ignore 3. Start Fighting for What You Want Some will succeed because they’re destined to, but most succeed because they fight for what they want. To achieve something significant, you have to be fearless in pursuit of what you want to achieve. And even if nobody believes in what you’re doing, you have to do what it takes to make it happen- you have to be determined, and you have to have tenacity. The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in the person who’s determined. Don’t be afraid to give yourself everything you ever wanted in life. 4. Start Engaging With People You Admire Having people you admire and look up to in your life can be a great resource for learning and motivation. Start hanging out with people who’re dependable and reliable. Always choose relationships based on respect and trust, and make sure that their words match their actions and deeds. If you want to get ahead, one of the best ways to do this is to find out from others how they got where they are. I don’t think that people take enough time to tell others who inspire them what an impact they make on their lives. Related: 14 Things Ridiculously Successful People Do Every Day 5. Start Being More Disciplined Discipline gives us the freedom to put all our focus into achieving our goals. But, it becomes increasingly harder to be disciplined in a world that’s in constant distraction and relies on instant gratification, and thus sometimes our long-term goals get put off. Discipline is simply choosing between what you want now and what you want most. And the truth is, anyone who ever did anything important was disciplined. 6. Start Making Happiness a Priority What’s important to you must be made a priority. Don’t waste another second on the things that drain your energy or make you feel fatigued- start noticing what makes you feel happiest and work hard on achieving it. Whatever you do, make sure it makes you happy. Sometimes the things we’re most afraid of are the things that make us the happiest. Become the person who’s in pursuit of happiness. Related: This One Change in Mindset Is What Separates Successful People From Everyone Else 7. Start Being Grateful Feeling grateful is one of the most medicinal emotions we can feel. It elevates your mood, and it fills you with happiness. If we’re going to be successful, we have to start being grateful for the things that happen in our life, no matter how good or bad each of us has it. You have to start making it a practice to be grateful for your life, because the truth is, we often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude. Life isn’t about having what we want. Never let the things you want make you forget the things you have. This article was originally published on Inc. It has been republished here with permission.