This was a great assignment. Building an organization within a start-up is a completely different skill set in some ways. It is easy to fall in love with the myth of the start-up with phrases like "burn rate". That means you are losing money. How to you ramp up fast, while growing talent, and keep everyone engaged and motivated, while they work harder than they may ever have. Done right, it is incredibly exciting.

1. Project Blue Sky
A Business Management and Growth Program
Prepared: Dec 7, 2007
Pages: 10
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2. Business Growth Project
OBJECTIVE
Implement a Business Management Model
that drives performance in a positive fashion,
consistent with our culture, while providing
personal growth opportunities.
“When hope fades effort dies”
“Everything that is done in the world is done by hope.”
“The natural flights of the human mind are not from pleasure to pleasure but from hope to hope.”
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3. Key Elements
The Key Elements of Project Blue Sky
– Primary Business Contributions
– Key Performance Indicators
– Standard Operating Procedures
– Personal Growth Plans
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4. Executive Activity Matrix
4

5. Building the Explorer’s
Bounty Culture
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6. Driving Executive Excellence
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7. The Components of
Aligned Goals
.
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8. Standard Operating Procedures
SOP
An effective catalysts to drive performance improvement and improving organizational
results.
Definition:
– A set of instructions having the force of a directive.
– A definite or standardized procedure without loss of effectiveness.
– Similar to a Quality Assurance involving the entire organization
– Systems to ensure products or services are designed and produced to
meet or exceed (customer) requirements.
Practical Applications:
– Office Communications: Internal & External
– Quality Control
– Mailings
– Needed for ISO compliance
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9. Process for Primary Business Contributions
Plan-Do-Check-Act
Establish the
objectives and
processes
Monitor, evaluate
and report the
outcome
Apply actions to the
outcome. Review all
steps and modifying
as necessary.
Implement
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10. Personal Growth Plans
• Create Growth Plans developed from fact based assessments.
• Personal Growth Plans increase skills and motivate leaders.
• Growth Plans are achieved within the context of business via
exhibited behavior.
• Personal Growth Plans are NOT a list of seminars to attend or
training classes to take.
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