It's not Italy anymore. It's Holland.

Let's be honest. We all planned to spend our future in the proverbial "Italy." It's sunny, warm, bountiful. Lots of pasta, wine, friendly people. We bought the plane ticket to our little villa. We learned the language and the geography. We thought the plane would land in Italy because it said so on our ticket.

But we didn't land there.

Our plane landed in Holland. "Wait a minute. The ticket says Italy. I don't know this country. The language is different, the wooden shoes hurt, and where's the pasta? Get me back to Italy."

"Sorry," said the pilot. "Holland is your new home. Figure it out."

Now the proverbial "Holland" is our brave new country. Because we didn't choose it, there is a lot of talk that we will be returning to Italy. That Holland was just a temporary stop over. That our companies, our current roles, and our products will not have to be re- evaluated, streamlined, and transitioned. That even our personal lives will go back to "normal" again, after a short period of time.

But it's not going to happen. It never has after a big global explosion.

Yet there is much to appreciate in Holland. Maybe more than in Italy. Maybe there are actually more jobs in Holland. Some will look different but jobs should be more plentiful...and interesting. Companies will probably be smaller but better managed. Maybe we will get to know everyone who works in our organizations. Maybe we will get closer to our clients, customers, and colleagues. Have more fun. Be more appreciative. Create new markets. Get more done. Be more profitable.

To survive and then thrive, we have to meet this brave new opportunity head-on with flexibility, self-discipline, and an understanding of what got us here and what needs to change.

Make Holland Your Home

Here are some rules of the road for making "Holland," a place you want to live.

To have the people you love, love you back. That's the most important thing I know. Warren Buffett There are no mistakes, no coincidences. All events are blessings given to us to learn from. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted. Randy Pausch - Quotes

1. Same job, new role. Most employees have noticed their roles changing. Though the title, job description, and pay are the same, the role and scope of most jobs - what the employee is responsible for - probably has grown considerably. With long-standing silos gone and more shared services, leaders are likely doing less command and control and a lot more influencing and collaborating. In Holland it's more fun and productive to collaborate than to clobber colleagues.
   
2. Never stop executing, even for a day. If you are the boss, put the simplest business strategy possible in place. One that everyone can understand. Then make executing it the # 1 goal. Keep delivering the business results that your organization needs, even when things are in an uproar. Depending on your industry, it may be hitting the daily number of "heads in beds," revenue booked, customers served, or clients called. We can never take a vacation from results.
   
3. Constantly innovate and adapt. Look around. In fact, look outside your industry. Breakfast, Internet, and spa products are now complimentary at many hotels. 100% customer satisfaction or money back is showing up in diverse market sectors - even in big ticket items. Car loans are being waived for 6 months if buyers lose their job. Those who don't innovate will likely find their brand - or company - playing catch-up. Now more than ever, companies need to be flexible, constantly seeking small improvements that will retain customers, reduce costs, and increase employees' engagement and enjoyment at work.
   
4. Short-Term Planning is good. Yearly goals usually get addressed around October. It's human nature. Make the most of your goals daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly. Think 30-day to 90-day. Of course have the big hairy goals - retire at 50, build your dream house, start a non-profit, hike the Appalachian Trail. But chunk everything down to small, but frequent bites. If you are up against a crisis, don't spend all your day dealing with it. Plan and schedule time for positive short-range issues and quick wins. You will get through the current crisis and be healthier for the next one.
   
5. Create clarity. If you are a leader, be as clear as you can on what you want and what the company needs from each employee. Sit down with every member of your team and map out a 90-day plan. If you don't have any direct reports, make sure you ask your boss what is most important to accomplish. Most employees want to deliver results and be engaged in their work. When roles and results are clearly understood and doable, companies surge ahead.

That's it. Just five recommendations that will help you adapt and thrive in Holland.

And one more thing. What do you know now that you didn't know a year ago about yourself and your business? What have you learned living in "Holland"?

I welcome your feedback. Please e-mail me at Sbixler@bixlerconsulting.com.

Keep working on making 2009 your best year ever!