7 Secrets To A Successful, Enduring Business by Catherine Allen

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            7 Secrets To A Successful, Enduring Business was an attractive article for me because everybody wants to be a better businessperson, and a better business for that matter. The article explains that core values are key to maintaining a positive culture and promoting growth from the ground up. "Core values help you to implement the essence of strategy: knowing what to say no to. Without them, you’re a car without a GPS, and you’re just as likely to drive into a bad neighborhood as you are to get where you want to go." SHIFT Senior Vice President Catherine Allen explains that the "secret sauce" to longevity as a business is Honorable, Dedicated, Connected, Creative, Ballsy, Positive and smart.

            Honorable is difficult by nature because it involves doing the right thing even when you are tempted to do something easier. Honorable employees recognize that there is only one way to do something and that is the right way. Dedicated is going above and beyond in your efforts. The old adage goes, "be the first one in and the last one out". Team members are valuable when they are connected to other journalists, publishers and other media. When they are connected in a business and community sense, they help generate new business opportunities for the company. Creative means having idea based and idea driven qualities about you; you either have it or you don't. "Thinking outside of the box" is a common ingredient in successful business practices.

            Ballsy is "gutsy" on edge. Ballsy is all about "calculated, measured risk-taking and stepping as far outside your comfort zone as [humanly] possible". This happens to be my favorite quality because there are many times at work where I have to think on my feet, make the smartest executive decisions I can (business wise and customer wise), stand by them, be held accountable for them and live with them at the end of the day. Positive has little to no correlation with personal happiness or agreeing; it has more to do with the energy, boldness and enthusiasm you bring to the table. Finally, Smart does not refer to the book smarts in particular academic subjects; it refers to the street smarts and mental toughness necessary to take on problems and business connections.