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As is often the case, I may not exactly know what it is, but I know what it is not.
What is the difference between a leader and a manager?
A leader worries about her people; a manager worries about his boss.
Leaders walk in front and show others the way. They lift the heavy boxes first and, like Tom Sawyer, they start out by painting the fence better and faster than the crowd who gathered to watch them. It is awe that makes the crowd members pick up a brush and join in. But unlike Tom, they stay involved through the process and keep recruiting others. (Entrepreneurs figure out vinyl fences don’t need paint.)
Leaders don’t stop for nearly as many breaks or gather around and watch others, unless they are learning and comparing. They always hoe to the end of the row, even in heat, a rainstorm, or when supper is calling.
Leaders begin to sing out when the song begins, because they know the other voices will soon blend in and hide the fact they are slightly off key.
Leaders seek out the one lagging beyond, find what makes them tick, then challenge them to keep up and to keep time.
Leaders are like the Marines… first in… last out. They don’t punch a clock, they get a job done, even if they mop up what’s left behind.
Leaders work on the system, managers work in the system.
Leaders like exempt over non-exempt. They demand a fair salary, they don’t ever want to be measured as just an hourly wage. But they will work hard and long under one if they have to, even if they get sent home by their manager before overtime rules kick in.
A manager never quits a job until they find one that is better.
Leaders rarely get fired. But they often get fired up. They will quit any job that asks them to do something they don’t believe in. But they will work at any job if the reason is strong enough or they have given their word.
Leaders are shepherds with a staff who call out with their voice, not sheep herders that ride horses with lots of smart dogs that nip at your heals.
Entrepreneurs know you need to be both a leader and a manager… in that order. They always start with a leader, and then find a manager.
They know a great leader is the ultimate solution to any problem. They pay ten to a thousand times more money for a great leader than a great manager… in a heartbeat.
What is the difference between finance and accounting?
One is a tool with leverage, the other is a method with scrutiny.
One puts the world at your feet, the other keeps the IRS away.
Finance finds the money at all costs. Accounting finds the cost of money.
Finance uses predictive analytics and statistics to gauge the odds of success. Accounting uses bookkeeping to track success and report to finance.
Accounting hears there is a recession going on. Finance finds counter-recessionary trends and catches a wave.
Finance steers through the land mines and sees trends on the rise. Accounting reports on the cost of running aground.
Entrepreneurs practice both and hire both. And pay much less for Accountants.
What is the difference between sales and marketing?
Sales are the Navy Seals, the Green Berets, the Rangers. Marketing is the Air Force that rides high and sees far. They can’t win a war by themselves, but they sure look good to the folks on the ground kicking door to door.
Sales seeks out and solves need.
Marketing causes awareness and turns it to interest.
Sales wishes Marketing would educate interest into need before it gets to them, so they don’t have to. But they do if they need to. It just takes longer.
Sales knows that interest is the counterfeit of need.
Sales yells at Marketing for not generating enough good leads. Marketing yells back for not calling them all before they get cold.
Sales makes a way, marketing finds a way.
Entrepreneurs know they are both right, but that sales is the last to ever turn off the lights.
What is the difference between a statesman and a politician?
A statesman, or stateswoman, wades into the fray, a politician maneuvers through it.
A statesman fills his hand against the odds. A politician feels the odds against his hand.
Ethics and law are a statesman’s guide, with greater good as the motive. A statesman is honest when nobody is looking. He speaks up even when he is the only one in the room who is willing to.
He would serve for a single dollar, and often does. He would love to put down the heavy burden, but only does so when those he loves and is duty-bound to uphold are out of harm’s way.
Entrepreneurs are the statesmen (and women) of business.
What is the difference between faith and belief?
Faith is action, it is of the body. Belief is thought, it is of the mind.
Faith comes after hope, which is the fuel of the heart… desire… purpose… motive.
Faith is an assurance that what you have seen happen before, though you don’t see it now, will happen again… if you act and work.
Faith knows it’s enemy is doubt.
Belief hopes to become faith someday when it grows up.
Faith is based on truth. Belief may not be based on anything.. It doesn’t know.
Faith will risk it all and is willing to pay the price for every blessing. Belief flees because it isn’t sure, and wavers when things get really difficult.
Others look at faith and say “I get it!”
They look at belief and wonder if they get it.
Faith only wonders why.
Belief worries how.
Entrepreneurs know that belief turns to faith based on truth, assurance, and action… always action.
What is the difference between church and religion?
Church is a place you go to, on the outside. Religion is within.
A church is a building you go to worship on a specific day each week. Religion can be found on a mountaintop… alone.
Religion may or may not be had in a church.
A church is what you identify with. Religion is who you really are.
Some religions believe in God or god, or no god. But they live it.
Religion is the sum total of your habits. Habits are the true garb of religion.
Entrepreneurs hire people from all churches, but look deeply for those who live their religion, whether it includes a belief in God or not.
What is the difference between learning and understanding?
Learning goes to the source by itself, practices and rehearses, engages, memorizes and teaches back, and walks away with a treasure.
Understanding watches the teacher do the problem on the board and gets it then, but can’t figure out the ciphers in the textbook at home in the evening.
Learning goes to Lynda.com for $25 a month, where every software package lies at its fingertips, and in six months figures out how to start a company building websites.
Understanding gets a degree after four years, finds a job, and then works for somebody else for six years to pay off student loans.
Understanding is the counterfeit of Learning.
Learning goes to school to sit on the front row and ask questions.
Understanding takes notes to pass a test.
Learning cares much more about the quality of the question.
Understanding cares more about the completeness of the answer.
Training is what the trainer does. Learning is what sticks.
Teaching is what a teacher does. Learning is what a student does.
Learning is the valuable residue that is left over after Teaching occurs.
Learning counts only if it is measured and can be applied.
Learning leads to an education. Understanding leads to a degree.
Learning leads to an entrepreneur. Understanding leads to an employee.
Entrepreneurs don’t spend much of their time as an employee.
Only long enough to learn on somebody else’s dime, and from somebody else’s understanding.
Entrepreneurs don’t usually have an MBA, but they hire as many of them as they can.
Author: Ken Krogue
