This is a very old adage and it's analogy to the business world is nothing short of impressive. For a clearer understanding, I will discuss it in both the surface and deeper perspectives with the surface viewpoint being the first. A well-known fact is, for effectiveness and efficiency; certain guiding principles are mandatory. The same also applies with milking of the cow. In the Buddhism religion, the cow is a very sacred animal and considered as the mother because of the milk it gives. So sacred are heifers in this religion that in some parts of Asia, motorists usually stop their cars for them to cross the road! Almost all of us enjoy drinking tea, coffee or just pure milk and/or its other by-products. Each cow is different but for most, the procedure of milking is almost the same with the extremes canceling each other. For excellent results, milk her two times daily (morning and evening) at the exact same times. Always sit on the same side of the cow (to make her relaxed and comfortable) and wipe her udder with warm water before and after milking (gently and with massaging strokes). The outcome in terms of liters or gallons will be overwhelming by following these simple guidelines. Generally, the same formula applies for success in most areas of life, business inclusive. Taking this anecdote into analysis, it will emerge that running a business can be a simple affair only if done appropriately. The three fundamental keys here being time, consistency, and good interpersonal skills (rapport).
Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives. Time is the most valuable asset an individual can ever acquire. On that note, this means that even loosing a second of your time means loosing part of your lifetime, forever. Even though frequently against us, this asset can and should be used to our own benefit. Just like milking the cow at exactly the same times each day, we should also be time conscious while handling our responsibilities. For example, an appointment scheduled at 9 o'clock should be at that particular time and you shouldn't translate it as a 9.15 or an 8.45 appointment. Lateness is intolerable, and if it occurs due to unavoidable circumstances, call ahead and give reasonable explanations. On the other hand, it would be erroneous to state that it's wrong to arrive in time. Some people may actually appreciate this, and you may have some extra minutes to organize yourself be it a case of an interview, a presentation or a seminar. Just as the saying goes, "you can never be too ready". The best, however, would be to arrive on time with everything needed at hand and after several rehearsals as well as detailed planning. Several ways can be useful in achieving this, especially in the workplace. To the employer, ensure that projects and workloads are all delegated in due time to avoid any unjust pressure to the staff. In addition, adequate time gives fruitful results because of thorough research. On the employee's side, research, assignments, projects, and duties are all best if submitted before deadlines. Procrastination and laxity are recipes for disaster that every individual should avoid at all cost. Managing one's time well (by setting priorities first) and sticking to one's schedule (to-do list) are a sure way of success in this area. Top of all, always handle matters with regard to importance and not urgency.
With consistency, it is a bit trickier. A well-known fact is that it is not at all hard being number one, but very hard lasting there. For peak performance, ensure that you deliver what is required from you, when it's required from you, and where it's required from you. Keeping in mind the sale figures and the positive feedback that a company gets from satisfied clients, its ultimate goal should be to keep them coming back. This way, not only will you have regular customers, but also have an expansion of the market since most of them will definitely refer others if they are truly satisfied with your goods and services. Soon enough, you will be in the network and as busy as a bee. Competency in dealing with responsibilities of such great magnitude emerges from perfecting the art of consistency. In the corporate world, for instance, consistency manifests itself in peak performance over a given period of years. It seldom goes unappreciated and its reward is extremely worthwhile. These rewards are usually in the form of awards and honors such as the Company Of the Year Awards (COYA) here in Kenya. Once you start milking the cow, you will have to do so daily for the period of her entire lifetime, or 'till you take her to the market for sale. The situation is also similar in the work environment, once things get in motion; it is forward ever and backward never.
They say that man is a social animal. With regards, it is very essential to note the vitality of good interpersonal skills in an organization. For any business to boom, it should treat the customer care section with great importance as any other section present there. Except for monopoly markets, almost every other market is flooded and competition is high. Many individuals and companies are all offering the same goods and services. Without a good rapport with one's customers, it's a very challenging task to realize good profits (if any at all). Besides making high profits, winning the loyalty of your customers is an achievement that deserves applause. This is so since should there be a case of inflation in the goods or services you are offering, a good rapport ensures that very little, if any, resistance meets this. The case would be worse if the consumers do not relate to you on a personal level. In a Company, the human resource manager should be on toes to ensure the smooth running of his department. Jesus Christ once said, "A good leader is a servant of his people". With this in mind, keep boosting the staff's morale every now and then, for instance, by showing them how to do a certain task practically. Other ways are getting to know them individually, rewarding the most outstanding characters, and by avoiding favors. After all, the way they might react to the clientèle might probably be a reflection on how their employers react to them. Going back to the proverb again, we see that in milking a cow you have to sit on the same side and wipe her udder with warm water. All these are for creating a good rapport between the two of you.
There is this very common misquote which states that rules are meant to be broken. Rules and regulations are just about all that keeps our societies from insanity. From the religions, to the courts, and finally to the traditions, order is maintained through rules and regulations. The same is to be applicable in business and to life in general. Amazingly, in negation to this, every person is different and we all have different strengths and weaknesses. Even in the companies, the SWOT (Strength Weaknesses Opportunities Threats) analysis comes in handy in the monitoring of progress. Each individual is different to the next from just their fingerprints, thinking capacity, hobbies, interests...the list is endless. From that perspective, it would be best to put in your all and your best. Nevertheless, in my own opinion, I see no harm in trying to blend the two concepts together. This means that you are to follow the rules of God, the state, Mother Nature, tradition, and success. In addition, if you should include your own unique abilities rest assured that the outcome would be very rewarding. Whether a businessperson, an employee or an employer, you will yield great results if you milk the cow the best way you know how.
Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives. Time is the most valuable asset an individual can ever acquire. On that note, this means that even loosing a second of your time means loosing part of your lifetime, forever. Even though frequently against us, this asset can and should be used to our own benefit. Just like milking the cow at exactly the same times each day, we should also be time conscious while handling our responsibilities. For example, an appointment scheduled at 9 o'clock should be at that particular time and you shouldn't translate it as a 9.15 or an 8.45 appointment. Lateness is intolerable, and if it occurs due to unavoidable circumstances, call ahead and give reasonable explanations. On the other hand, it would be erroneous to state that it's wrong to arrive in time. Some people may actually appreciate this, and you may have some extra minutes to organize yourself be it a case of an interview, a presentation or a seminar. Just as the saying goes, "you can never be too ready". The best, however, would be to arrive on time with everything needed at hand and after several rehearsals as well as detailed planning. Several ways can be useful in achieving this, especially in the workplace. To the employer, ensure that projects and workloads are all delegated in due time to avoid any unjust pressure to the staff. In addition, adequate time gives fruitful results because of thorough research. On the employee's side, research, assignments, projects, and duties are all best if submitted before deadlines. Procrastination and laxity are recipes for disaster that every individual should avoid at all cost. Managing one's time well (by setting priorities first) and sticking to one's schedule (to-do list) are a sure way of success in this area. Top of all, always handle matters with regard to importance and not urgency.
With consistency, it is a bit trickier. A well-known fact is that it is not at all hard being number one, but very hard lasting there. For peak performance, ensure that you deliver what is required from you, when it's required from you, and where it's required from you. Keeping in mind the sale figures and the positive feedback that a company gets from satisfied clients, its ultimate goal should be to keep them coming back. This way, not only will you have regular customers, but also have an expansion of the market since most of them will definitely refer others if they are truly satisfied with your goods and services. Soon enough, you will be in the network and as busy as a bee. Competency in dealing with responsibilities of such great magnitude emerges from perfecting the art of consistency. In the corporate world, for instance, consistency manifests itself in peak performance over a given period of years. It seldom goes unappreciated and its reward is extremely worthwhile. These rewards are usually in the form of awards and honors such as the Company Of the Year Awards (COYA) here in Kenya. Once you start milking the cow, you will have to do so daily for the period of her entire lifetime, or 'till you take her to the market for sale. The situation is also similar in the work environment, once things get in motion; it is forward ever and backward never.
They say that man is a social animal. With regards, it is very essential to note the vitality of good interpersonal skills in an organization. For any business to boom, it should treat the customer care section with great importance as any other section present there. Except for monopoly markets, almost every other market is flooded and competition is high. Many individuals and companies are all offering the same goods and services. Without a good rapport with one's customers, it's a very challenging task to realize good profits (if any at all). Besides making high profits, winning the loyalty of your customers is an achievement that deserves applause. This is so since should there be a case of inflation in the goods or services you are offering, a good rapport ensures that very little, if any, resistance meets this. The case would be worse if the consumers do not relate to you on a personal level. In a Company, the human resource manager should be on toes to ensure the smooth running of his department. Jesus Christ once said, "A good leader is a servant of his people". With this in mind, keep boosting the staff's morale every now and then, for instance, by showing them how to do a certain task practically. Other ways are getting to know them individually, rewarding the most outstanding characters, and by avoiding favors. After all, the way they might react to the clientèle might probably be a reflection on how their employers react to them. Going back to the proverb again, we see that in milking a cow you have to sit on the same side and wipe her udder with warm water. All these are for creating a good rapport between the two of you.
There is this very common misquote which states that rules are meant to be broken. Rules and regulations are just about all that keeps our societies from insanity. From the religions, to the courts, and finally to the traditions, order is maintained through rules and regulations. The same is to be applicable in business and to life in general. Amazingly, in negation to this, every person is different and we all have different strengths and weaknesses. Even in the companies, the SWOT (Strength Weaknesses Opportunities Threats) analysis comes in handy in the monitoring of progress. Each individual is different to the next from just their fingerprints, thinking capacity, hobbies, interests...the list is endless. From that perspective, it would be best to put in your all and your best. Nevertheless, in my own opinion, I see no harm in trying to blend the two concepts together. This means that you are to follow the rules of God, the state, Mother Nature, tradition, and success. In addition, if you should include your own unique abilities rest assured that the outcome would be very rewarding. Whether a businessperson, an employee or an employer, you will yield great results if you milk the cow the best way you know how.
