Topic for Discussion: What is the difference in these two questions and why is the second question more important to the long-term success of your business than the first?

Answer: If you ask yourself and your employees, "How do we get this done?," you'll find an answer but it may be what I'd like to call the "quick-and-dirty answer."

Finding a way to get things done is generally not difficult. The hard thing is to find the most elegant solution based upon what you know today. And you remember Bob said he still thinks like a young man. I believe that is because he assumes change. He assumes he has to constantly learn new things. He can't keep doing things the way he did them yesterday.

Bob is a student. He studies all the steps of his business constantly. He steps back and watches how tasks are being executed. By always asking, "How can we do this better?," he has built-in his own continuous improvement system.

Much has been written about Total Quality Management (TQM) since the 1980s. This a formal process used in many big companies, including GE's Six Sigma, that has been adopted by many small businesses successfully. One company you can study here that installed a formal TQM processes is Texas Nameplate and it won the Texas Quality Award in 1995 and then went on to win the Malcolm Baldrige award for quality in 1998.

By searching to continuously improve, Bob is always investing for the future. He invests in engineering, machinery, systems, procedures and technology. He has been doing this since 1946 and it's clearly the reason he is grows and sells more vegetables than most growers today. We can never rest or feel content. Yes, you do have to pat yourself and your employees on the back once in awhile, but generally it is the state of discontent that fosters our growth.

Topic for Discussion: Bob's father told him that whatever he decided to do with his life, he should strive to be the best. Is there a downside to this advice?

Answer: Yes. Your first attempts may not work out. Bob has only been a farmer; by applying his father's advice while farming, Bob has become better than others. When he started farming in 1946, it took 26% of the population to feed us. Today it only takes 1.8% of the population to grow our food. Not only has Bob been successful, but he has made it big in an industry that has shut its doors on thousands. However, you cannot do it better than other people if they have talent and you do not. Hard work will not make up for raw ability if the people with raw ability are applying themselves. If by chance they are all lazy, you may have a chance at being the best. So, find your raw talent, then work hard and you'll be better than the competitors.

Topic for Discussion: If your parents didn't give you any advice, are you stuck finding your own way?

Answer: Yes and no. You have to find your own way but you are not stuck. There are wise people; you just have to find them. Look for people who have in their lives what you want in your life. In the case of a business, do you want 100 employees as Bob has? Then start spending time with business owners who have 100 employees. If you want to understand any aspect of business, join the group that focuses on that body of knowledge.

You think about it: What aspect of your business needs improvement? What can you do to make the needed improvements? Should you hire a consultant? Ask employees what they think?