
In business, the term “best practices” is used often when we discuss setting up the foundations of a company. When I started my business, I was a junior in college and this was not a concept that I learned until after a few years of struggling. I remember it clearly; I was at a round table of business owners who had all been in business longer than I had, and one of the entrepreneurs said (even though I was just starting out) to try to apply “best practices.” He continued to explain that for him this meant running his small business as if he were already a bigger company. He held weekly meetings with himself and outlined the positions in the company that he filled and eventually would hire staff to fill. I remember thinking to myself, why didn’t I learn this in business school? What a good idea – I need to do this in my business!
My husband, who I adore, knows me very well he is my best friend, but he can’t seem to pick out presents for me. Every year two to three weeks before Christmas I send him a list of things I like, tell him the right sizes and colors. I explain to him that I don’t want everything on the list he can choose what he likes. This is to give him some guidance so I am happy, and he feels relieved that he found something I will enjoy.