SOAR in 2024

Scott Humphrey CEO, WFCA

Here at the World Floor Covering Association, ”We exist to ensure the success and profitability of professional flooring dealers and to represent the industries’ common interest.” That is our purpose statement. What is yours?

I’m not asking why your business exists. I am asking about you! If you are like many, that can be difficult to put into words. Yet understanding your ”why” is vital to your success and peace of mind. I will let you ponder your ”why.” I want to focus on your ”How.” How will you make this year better than your last? What will you do differently so you can achieve different results?

What if I challenged you to Soar in 2024? Would you accept that challenge? I am not talking about a New Year’s Resolution. No, I am talking about a New You Resolution. Research and experience tell me that most of you will not accept the challenge. You will make some excuse about the time required or your current level of satisfaction. If that is you, you can stop reading now.

However, if you are one of those individuals who is constantly focused on being your best and positively impacting the lives of those around you, what follows could be the catalyst to your best year yet.

There is a great deal of talk these days about the Greatest Of All Time or G.O.A.T. in various business, political, and athletic fields. To soar in 2024, we need an example that stands out — one that rises above the rest.

Throughout the month of December, on my Leadership Live podcast, I focused on just such an example – The American Bald Eagle. The most majestic of birds and one that truly stands out above all others. The reasons why are applicable to every individual who desires to live their best life, impact others, fulfill their purpose, and leave a lasting legacy. Here are but a few things we can learn from the bird selected by the Second Continental Congress as the symbol of the United States of America:

1. Eagles have amazing vision –

It is estimated to be 4 to 8 times stronger than the vision of the average human. With 20/5 to a human’s 20/20 vision, eagles can see things at 20 feet that a human can only see at 5 feet. In fact, it is estimated they can see another eagle soaring from 50 miles away and spot a mouse from 1 to 2 miles away. Likewise, leaders with the greatest vision out navigate, out imagine and out perform their competition. Question: What would success look like at the end of this year? Can you see it? Take time now to create the plan to get there.

2. Eagles are resourceful —

using what is available to build a nest high above their predators — It can take an eagle 1-3 months to build their nest, and they usually come back to them year after year. The largest recorded nest was eight feet across, some eighteen feet deep, and weighed in at approximately two tons. The best leaders use their God-given abilities and available resources to grow toward success.

They understand, ”If you want something you’ve never had, you must do something you’ve never done.”

Question:

What are your greatest strengths? This year, I challenge you to grow your strengths and stop the frustrating and often useless practice of focusing on improving your weaknesses. Build on what you have and use resources available to you to improve daily. The WFCA offers a plethora of resources to help you run your business and improve your life.

Our GROW (Growing Retail in Our World) sessions offer expertise on countless subjects to strengthen your business, and our new SEAL Leadership Certification (Seeking Excellence As Leaders) allows you as a leader to grow in ways that will impact your leadership at home, in your community, and at work!

3. Eagles fly into the storm —

While all other birds seek shelter during storms, eagles fly into the storm utilizing the updrafts to take them high above the storm to safety. I believe that qualifies as GOAT! Not only don’t they refuse to run from the storm, they use the storm to their own benefit! Great leaders prosper in the tough times. When everyone else is hunkering down, they are focused on learning from the storm and using what they learn to prosper. Half of all Fortune 500 companies were created in the midst of a crisis.

 FedEx during the oil crisis of 1973

 UPS during the financial panic of 1907

 Fortune magazine was founded 90 days after the market crash of 1929

 Uber was founded during the Great Recession of 2009

Question:

What can you learn from past failures and current economic challenges to strengthen your resolve and prepare you to soar in 2024?

4. Eagles remain focused on their target —

The only true predator the eagle faces is humans. Their greatest causes of death include being struck by vehicles and lead poisoning - attributed to eating deer and other animals that have been recently shot. In fact, the only bird to challenge the eagle is the crow. A crow is known to land on the neck of an eagle and begin to peck at their head.

The eagle seems indifferent to the nuisance and simply begins to fly higher. Eventually, flying so high that the oxygen level is diminished, and the crow becomes delirious and simply falls away. Way too many leaders are focused on their competition and not on their success.

Question:

What are the nuisances in your life that often occupy your mind and your calendar? What would happen if you focused less on the nuisances and more on your own success?

5. Eagles surround themselves with other eagles —

In the winter, bald eagles often gather at communal roosts, where they will perch overnight and sometimes during the day with other eagles. It is not uncommon for ten or twenty bald eagles to roost together. Leaders surround themselves with other leaders.

The WFCA is the largest association of independent flooring retailers in the world. Our members include the best of the best at what they do — the GOATs of flooring retail! They lean on and learn from each other.

Question:

Why not you? What relationships do you have in your personal and professional life that are holding you back? Why are you allowing this to continue? One of my daughters plays college basketball. In a recent game, they played a team that was ranked in the top 20 in the country. It probably doesn’t surprise you that, though they lost, they played one of the best games of the year. Why? Because being around the best brings out the best in you!

I truly want to see you SOAR in 2024! Know where you are going. Use the resources available to you through your WFCA membership to challenge and improve your skills. Don’t fear the storms around you. Utilize your strengths. Remain focused on what really matters. Finally, surround yourself with other winners. If you do, you will indeed SOAR in 2024! ■