How to run a company with (almost) no rules

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how to run a company

I just “met” Ricardo Semler, and he taught me more about how to run a company with (almost) no rules.

Because a student  (thank you Marc) from my talk last week sent me this video after he said I was one of the most authentic talks he’s heard in a long time.

And the talk I did was about “real estate investing.”

I think it was authentic because I really do give a rats ass about people doing something with their lives…

But I’m not about to stand up and wave pom-poms cheering them on when their not doing shit.

Know what I mean?

So my talk was more of a “kick-yer-ass” motivation, rather than “hey-you-can-do-it-if-I-can-do-it” speech.

So I took 20 minutes out of my “busy” day to watch this video of “How to Run A Company with (almost) No Rules”:

[ted id=2182]

Here’s why Ricardo inspired me to write this post about how to run a company:

In 2005 I SOLD my “stake” in the family company…

The decision was based on a LOT of what Ricardo says about our jobs having control over our lives.

I was only running the company for 2 years after returning to it when I shut down my music business.

In all honesty, it was my “fail-safe.”

But here’s the thing, I didn’t run my other companies with that thought in mind.

In fact, when my father was dying of cancer and begging me to take over the company, I still refused.

Imagine how that felt.

But two years after he passed, I went back.

I didn’t want to run the company from “his” chair.

In other words, I only wanted to do what I do best.

I wasn't my father.  I didn't have the charisma and people skills he did.

But I knew I could build the company from the back-end; not from the golf course, or at the fancy dinners…

I was a master at marketing, putting in systems to make things run smoother, easier, open up new niches, and so on…

AND, I wanted to ‘humanize’ the way we dealt with our employees.

Here's where the “how to run a company with (almost) no rules” comes in:

I didn’t see a problem having our staff do their piece work ON THEIR TERMS.

If they wanted to come in an hour late and stay an hour later – so be it.

If they wanted to take an afternoon off so they could watch their kids play soccer or see a school recital…

Go enjoy.

As long as the “widgets” were completed by Friday, I really didn’t care WHEN they were done.

See as the owners of the company, I really didn’t feel it was “fair” that WE could do all of that and more.

And still expect our employees to “punch in and out.”

I argued that THEY were “humans with families and lives” too.

Aside from that, I believe we have “flow zones” – I know I sure do.

There are certain times of the day where I rock…

And others where I’m totally brain-dead.

No motivation. (By the way, those are the times I'm actually napping – that's for another post)

And I don’t think I’m alone.

So why do we need to FORCE people to work inside OUR flow zone?

As you can imagine, I was met with A LOT of resistance…

This ‘crazy’ idea did not go over well with my family “board members” and the other heads of departments.

“We’ve done it like this since day one.”

Ever heard that one?

I won’t bore you with the details of our weekly Friday (shooting gallery) meetings (which quite oddly I started when I got there as part of my implementation strategies to reduce the redundancy of every day operations and meetings about meetings.)

But what I will say is that it got so bad, even I WAS expected to “punch in” at the same time my siblings and other board members did.

In other words, inside THEIR flow zone.

“F that” is what I said.

In fact, I got MORE done sitting in my pajamas at home waiting for the morning traffic to die down, just so I could have the “privilege” of  driving  45 minutes to the office to “officially” be at work.

And when I finally arrive around 10am,  I had only two choices…

Leave at 3pm to avoid the rush hour…(so it wasn’t worth starting anything in-depth)

Or stay until 7 or 8pm to avoid the rush hour which meant I would never see my family.

Can you see the problem?

Guess which one I chose.

Now you may be thinking “Joey, you had it MADE, those are some cool hours!!!”

On the contrary.

I got LESS done because of what I just told you, AND that I was always stressed out about what “others” would say about me walking in so “late.”

Our Company Had Rules:

That I wasn't prepared to follow.

I wanted desperately to change those rules with the onset of our ‘new world'.

I really don't know what my dad would have thought of it if he was alive.

But I can promise you he figured out that work ISN’T your life.

Even if you LOVE what you do – and he DID.

All I know is that cancer told him “you better start living your life my friend – you've got three years.”

Which brings up another point.

I really can’t understand HOW people can trade away the moments of their life for something they HATE.

Think about it.

I hear all the time how they have to wait for X to happen so they can X to finally do X.

Screw that.

I HAD IT MADE.

A company handed to me with new cars every year, a nice salary and whatever other perks you can think of.

And I gave it up.

Why?

Because it was KILLING ME.  And it was ONLY two years.

It wasn’t who I am.

I was no longer willing to trade my life for the stress, anxiety, debates, misalignment of values and so forth just because…

I know this post will probably raise a few eyebrows and have differences of opinions..

That’s cool…

We’re human.

But when it comes to the topic of how to run a company with (almost) no rules, Ricardo Semler NAILS it.

So take a few moments and REALLY watch the video.

You'll be pleasantly surprised that it’s not just about how to run a company…

There are MANY life lessons in here that I truly believe you need to hear.

One last point

When you watch the “how to run a company with (almost) no rules” video, you'll understand why I am so grateful for the “little” things.

Such as taking any afternoon to watch the new Star Wars movie in FULL iMax, without navigating the crazy crowds.

I STILL feel very strongly about how we DO our work.

I don’t CARE when or even “how” you do it…as long as it’s done to the standards of the company.

And that’s about giving up some control to the people I delegate stuff to.

Which of course, was really hard because I’m such a control freak.

But think about it.

The more ‘control’ you need to monitor, the LESS free you are.

Isn’t that true?

Listen, I’m not saying let everything go to hell…

But what I AM saying is to look at what it is ALL for…

And to STOP waiting for the day “when this happens.”

Whether that day is GOOD news or BAD news.

Let’s start a conversation below and let me know your thoughts, comments, opinions…

About the author 

Joey Ragona

Giving heart-centered entrepreneurs, experts, and coaches clear direction & simple next steps to market and grow your business and advance your mission.

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