Something we’ve been working on lately at The Garland Group is moving our clients toward something we like to call “Continuous Compliance.” We’ve discussed it a few times on here (intro video here), but wanted to dig a little deeper today. To explain the process and what it entails, Heath Stanley made this video to answer some basic questions about Continuous Compliance:

We’re looking to get more clients on board with Continuous Compliance. If your institution is interested or would like to learn more, please contact sales@thegarlandgroup.net.

We had a break through at my house this weekend. My son, Anthony, who is 5, figured out he could swim. We attended a birthday party for his friend, Cole at the local Rec Center’s swimming pool. The pool is full of fountains and slides (along with a bunch of kids and their accompanying adults), and is also shallow enough for him to be able to walk around. Normally he wears a floaty suit in the pool, but because it was so shallow we took it off him. Next thing, my wife and I see is him with his head underwater looking like he is thrashing about….only to realize he is doing it on purpose. He was attempting to kick and move his arms. We were amazed. He finally progressed to laying out his body and his swimming became more evident. It was great! It made me realize sometimes, you just have to step out of the box and try things that may or may not be the norm. Amazing things can happen by allowing ourselves a bit of freedom. Perhaps he will now go on to be a world class swimmer….then again, we are just happy he was so proud of his accomplishment. You would have thought he won a gold medal.

We never know what will happen in the future and that is why these events are so wonderfully precious. We learned last Friday, another boy from our kids’ preschool passed away. He was only five and in another class. I can’t imagine the pain that the family must be enduring at this time. We have to count our blessings and live each day to the fullest as we never know when our time or a loved one’s time is up. His death was accidental, but still it was the end of his life. I hope I never have to go through the pain of my child’s death. That is a something I would not wish on even my worst enemy.

It is moments like these that make me realize life is forever changing. From accomplishments (no matter the size) to the death of someone important, memories are what last a life time. From their first breaths of life to their first steps and first words to graduations and beyond, we have to cherish these momentous events of our children and ourselves. Count your blessings. Bring on the day and make it the best it can be!

Here is a great question. How much change is appropriate? I mean, if you’re a business, you want to grow…and it seems you can’t grow without changing something. Not to mention that if you want to stay competitive, you must not allow yourself to become stagnant. Sometimes you can’t even help but grow…demand almost forces you to (not a bad problem to have sometimes). And if you don’t change, someone else will…and then you’re hosed. Or what can be even worse is when someone requires or forces you to change. You could be perfectly happy where you are, and then to stay in business you might have to abide by this new law, or regulation. It can apply to so many things also. How much should a business change, how much should I change for this significant other that I really like, I can’t get a date so should I change my style, and so on.

Recently I have seen a couple of banks and people being both forced and also deciding to change or grow (I’m not going to tell you which one(s) are being forced!) in new directions. They want to grow but do not quite have the structure, the personnel, or lets say materials. Everything starts happening so fast, and then one person is doing 2, 3, or even 4 things or even 2,3, or 4 things are all changing at once. Then you look back and don’t even see a way back or don’t even recognize what you were. But then it’s so hard to settle and maintain because most successful people are always striving for more. Don’t get me wrong, I love change. It is needed and happily anticipated in my book. So I don’t even know if there is an answer – I know there are theories and opinions. But how much growth can a person, an organization, etc. handle? What is the “magic” formula or ratio? Or how bout the bigger question (at least in my mind); how much can we stand to change, but still be the person we were (or pertaining to business: continue to deliver the service/product that got us where we are today)?

I know we as The Garland Group continually strive to break new barriers and stay well ahead of the pack. However, Brad still strives to maintain the core values and principles…that personal touch…that we are known for (that Henry founded). Something that every company (small and large) must continue to deal with. So that’s been on my mind lately…and I don’t really know if I actually ever stated anything….or again managed to ramble on. Regardless I hope it will generate some conversation or even a thought of how you are going to try and find that balance of change in your life (personal or business).

I read a great book called Trusted Advisor by Maister, Green and Galford a while back. I thought I would share one of its fundamental messages. The book uses an equation to demonstrate how people we meet, and later learn to know, perceive our trustworthiness. They impressed me because of their ability to put this concept into a mathematical equation that I think is really accurate.

T = (C + R + I) / S

Our Trustworthiness is perceived by other people by the sum of our Credibility plus Reliability plus Intimacy; divided by your Self-orientation.

The challenge is when I meet someone for the first time, there is no intimacy, So I have only credibility and reliability to project as best I can, while at the same time making known that my interest in the other person is paramount and complimentary with my own interest. But in this e-World, this challenge is great, especially in business.

Do you agree that this is more challenging today than ever before? Have you had successful or unsuccessful experiences? Do you have suggestions?