Starting a Small Home Business

Small Business Owners – The First Two Steps Out of a Rut

July 4th, 2007 Filed under: Uncategorized — Small Home Business Author

Why am I in such a rut? If you are a Small Business Owner, the answer is you’re busy! That is the simple truth. It isn’t due to lack of mental certainty, life, family or friends. You are busy and have been busy for so long that you’ve forgotten the reason you started this game in the first place. When I point this out to many entrepreneurs I usually get the response, “I know. You want me to slow down and reengage with who I am and what I want, right?” “Not really,” I respond. “What we have to do first is address the issues that are keeping you so busy in the first place.”

What are the issues that keep entrepreneurs so busy? Of course they vary from business to business and person to person, but the central theme remains the same. The work has to get done, and there are always fires to put out. We often mask these issues with the belief that we can’t find good people, that no one cares as much as we do, or that if the clients don’t talk to us we will lose them. These concerns are valid; however, they shield us from the real cause at hand. Owners fail to achieve their full potential and move out of debilitating ruts, because their companies lack poor opening and closing procedures.

What!? Let me repeat myself–you lack good opening and closing procedures. There are two critical times in the day for any company: the moment the day begins and the last hour of business. Why? Because the mood, plan, focus and energy needed to succeed converge at these times.

If you start off sloppy and disorganized, then the entire working day will reflect its unfortunate beginning. This is why it is critical to lead the way every morning with energy, focus and certainty. At the days end, your system should allow you to set objectives for tomorrow while reviewing the current day’s results simultaneously. Remember, you fight sleepwalking and complacency with focused attention. In some ways closing procedures are more difficult to enact than opening procedures, because everyone is tired by the days end. Again, leadership and systems are required to get the desired results.

This may sound too simple an explanation as to why both you and your business are in a rut. All I can ask of you is to try my suggestion. Create opening and closing procedures and stick to them. Lead the way with energy, focus and certainty, and I believe you will be pleased with the results.