BASICS: Brute Force—Rapid, Decisive Action to Overcome Inertia

Today, we initiate the BASICS framework with B for Brute Force, defined as bold, decisive action to overcome inertia. Brute Force is the wake-up call for the organization, focusing solely on the lowest hanging fruit.

Brute Force must be rapidly executed, like pulling off a band-aid. The faster you run into the storm (the problems), the faster you get through it. Examples of low-hanging fruit include: scrapping highly inefficient equipment, removing unused storage facilities (saving $6,000/month), eliminating random stock placement, and organizing raw materials.

Crucial Warning: Brute Force is not dictatorship. Doing this without first changing your mindset (Part One of the book) results in panic and rumors, destroying morale. Leaders must communicate the plan (though not asking for approval) and quickly remove employees who fight the new system.

To counter the habit of employees running to the leader for every answer, Dean teaches them to think first. When asking a question, employees must provide three options and suggest one, empowering them to eventually become self-sufficient. Many owners claim they "have no money" to invest in change, but Dean notes they are simply underutilizing existing resources and wasting time.

Next time, we transition to the second phase: Analyze.

Are you ready to stop being the bottleneck in your business?.

• The guide to making effective change: Trojan Horse: The Unseen Solution to Critical Business Problems.

• Get an outside perspective on your chaos: DeanSvarc.com