2013/09/30

Clean up your business by playing Go For Broke | SmallBizSurvival.com

Clean up your business by playing Go For Broke

Posted: 29 Sep 2013 11:48 PM PDT

Our “Go for Broke” game board, with instructions and incentives for fixing anything that needed fixed.

After the rush of holiday business at our store, I decided to get everyone (all 5 of us) involved in cleaning up, fixing up and sprucing up. So I tried playing “Go For Broke.” (I remembered reading about a version of this game in Paul Hawken’s book, Growing a Business.)

I took the little cork board and covered it in money: $5 bills, $10 bills, and a few $20 bills. Then I posted an explanation:

Find anything that needs to be fixed, cleaned or straightened
Fix it
Write a note with what you did
Take the right bill for what the task was worth

I realize now that this is a bit of a small town idea. It’s based on the fact that I trusted everyone who worked here.

Once we got going, I listed a few tasks I’d noticed, like straightening up all the gift wrap supplies, dusting the silk flowers in the office, and cleaning the window frames inside and outside. (I should have done this right at first.)

How did it go? Here’s the project board mid-way through. Notice all the colored notes with completed tasks!

Together, we got good results.

Everyone pitched in and did at least a couple of things. A couple of people did lots. Most times, people took less money than I might have offered for a task, and they would combine several tasks together to add up. Lots of creative ideas came up as people looked for things that needed attention. It got everyone looking around the building with fresh eyes. On each note of accomplishment, I gave some encouragement. Bigger tasks got more encouragement. When even bigger ideas came out, I added a couple of $50 bills.

My friend and coach Rob Hatch said it was a way of establishing the culture. I just thought it was fun, and it worked. As we get ready for the holidays this year, I’ll be posting a new version with all new tasks to get us in shape for the big rush to come.

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