Recently, my friend Buife, who also runs a printing and publishing business in Lagos, visited me in Abuja. He was surprised that my company operates with only two full-time graphic designers, while the rest of the team works on an ad-hoc basis.
This got him thinking about reducing his overhead costs. He wanted to downsize his team of five graphic designers to two, mirroring my setup. However, he struggled with the decision as he was emotionally attached to his staff—many of whom had become close friends.
He asked me for my help making an objective decision, so I devised a plan to evaluate the team's performance.
I created three distinct tasks in a Word document and shared them with the graphic designers at different times. When the designs came back, my friends and I evaluated them—not just for aesthetics but for attention to detail.
Who made fewer typo errors after feedback?
Who adhered closely to the instructions and content?
Who followed the specified colours and details?
In the end, two designers stood out—not just for their creativity but for their diligence and precision. These two would not only deliver great designs but also save my friend the cost of hiring a quality assurance person.
This experience reminded me that in many organisations, including my own, there are plenty of talented individuals who can do the job but are unwilling to do it well. The cost of such complacency is high, often resulting in wasted time, resources, and lost opportunities.
If you or your business fall into this trap, it’s time to fix it. Because, as George S. Clason rightly said, “Opportunity is a proud goddess and wastes no time with those who are unprepared.”
At Jewel Publishers, we’ve experienced the sting of losing clients due to a lack of attention to detail. As I write this, I’m reflecting on how to improve my processes—just as I helped my friend do.
Shalom.
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