Ordinary vs Extraordinary Companies: Some Final Thoughts

We have discussed many of the important attributes that are the difference between ordinary and extraordinary companies. This final post on the subject focuses on people, questioning, inclusion, mentoring and being able to to go back to find the company's future.

People:

Extraordinary companies have extraordinary people all of whom are passionate. Ordinary companies have average people and none of them are passionate. Extraordinary companies attract extraordinary people. Ordinary companies attract ordinary people. When an ordinary company hires an extraordinary employee, the result for that person is painful and short-lived.

Mentoring:

Extraordinary companies create extraordinary employees and know how to mentor them into becoming future extraordinary top management. Ordinary companies do not focus on mentoring their employees. They are not interested nor do they know how or want to take the time to do it.

Questioning:

The extraordinary company's leaders and employees questions everyone they come in contact with. These are not "accuracy" questions but rather questions to learn something new. The ordinary company asks few questions. And, more often than not, they don't know the proper questions to ask.

Inclusion:

The extraordinary company includes all its trusted advisors and vendors in its research and decision making process. The ordinary company doesn't trust its advisors and vendors. They spend most of their time squeezing another discount from them ending up with fewer sources of supply and ideas.

Going Back To Find The Company's Future:

The company you own, head or work at was once an idea in the mind of the person who had the guts to start it. That idea was so strong it became an obsession. That obsession became a fledgling company eventually growing into what it is today.

Back when your company began, there was a "burning passion" in the person who originated the idea ... an idea his or her concept could become a viable concept around which a company could be built.

Extraordinary companies never forget what the pioneering spirit was that began their existence. They continually revisit the original concept to be able to map the future growth upon that original concept. Ordinary companies have long forgotten the reason they began ... often because they have been purchased and sold several times because their future has never been built on sound growth principals.

We hope this Ordinary vs Extraordinary series of posts contain ideas that you can put to use in your company.