What Potty Training And Business Have in Common - Inspired after looking after my twins today

“Yay! Time to start Potty Training. I love potty training—said no mother ever.

If you have children you will understand that you will have high and lows during potty training Toddlers are used to doing ‘things’ a certain way and are sometimes skeptical in trying new things and making mistakes.

Our twins (girl and boy) have totally different personalities. Our boy is open to trying new things, while my girl if a lot more cautious. She likes to know that she will be able to do it (or see someone do it) prior to her trying. Because of this we have had many stop starts with the potty training. Our son has been eager and not to worried about mistakenly making a pee on the floor, where our girl would not use the potty even with all the ‘bribes’ we offered until she new she could do it.

Finally after 2 -3 false starts where we reverted back to diapers, we have lift off and both are making huge progress (very fee puddles in the middle of the floor) and are only wearing a diaper to sleep.

From the new experience in trying to get our twins to start potty training I have been reminded of many principals that can be applied in the business world as in potty training.

1. With the potty training we had many false starts. We needed them both to be on same page before they would succeed. -In business you are going to have many false starts, however with perseverance you will succeed. You may need to wait and motivate a teammate before everyone will have success
2. Our boy is eager to please while our girl has a mind of her own. -You deal with many different personalities doing business. You need to learn quickly what motivates and makes people ‘tick’ to succeed, and to close that deal.
3. My better half set up a sticker chart in the bathroom where our children can see it. Each time they make a pee they get to put one sticker on their chart and get an M&M. For a number 2 they get two stickers. Once they finish a line of stickers they get to choose a prize. We also cheer and give a lot of high fives. – Recognize your employees in front of their colleagues and reward them for their successes (big or small). Seeing your colleagues rewarded will inspire others to follow suit. Don’t forget to recognize your clients as well. E.g. if they have increased their revenue or landed a new client congratulate them, if you know when their birthday is send them a card or email. Very few people write handwritten notes to thank or congratulate someone anymore –opportunity to set yourself apart. Small gestures make a big impression.
4. Give them the tools to succeed. With the twins we put have multiple potty stations through out the house. But we also lay down a safety net “mattress pad protector” when they are sitting on the bed or couch. –In business make sure you are providing the necessary resources to the employees to be competitive, and procedures that are there to assist not hinder
5. My wife and I have set a time frame when we need them to be fully potty trained (by camp) –Make sure when setting the goals for yourself or your team you have an end game for when you would like them to be accomplished, and make sure it is realistic.

The potty training has also reminded me to be patient, everyone moves at a different pace and you cannot make someone do something until they are ready. In the end everyone gets there and can succeed.

“There is no royal, flower-strewn path to success. And if there is, I have not found it. For if I have accomplished anything in life, it is because I have been willing to work hard.” – C.J. Walker