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There are points of everybody’s life which seem to be more significant or marked than others. There are also times of extremes – whether that is absolute quiet and calm or frantic activity and chaos. A business is no different. There are times when everything is going well and according to plan, quieter times and busier times……but there can also be a time when it feels like somebody has just pressed the spin cycle button!
Several different things have happened recently and the combined effect has been quite an experience….and has certainly caused some sleepless nights, some conversations which have ended with more questions than answers and some big decisions to be made.
But the key word that has come from all of this is FOCUS!
Focus at all times on what YOUR goals are. This may seem very obvious, but it is remarkably easy to be side tracked. As your business grows and changes other people will start to ask you to collaborate on projects, or ask you to help or get involved. Whilst this can be very flattering and potentially exciting and offer up new experiences, it may distract you from your goal. Whilst goals and business plans need to be flexible and reviewed, ensure that any new opportunities that involve a new direction still end up at your planned destination.
Recognise your true worth. This is quite a tricky one. At the start of a business you often are fighting your corner, promoting yourself as much as possible, grabbing all opportunities to climb the ladder to recognition and gain a market share. However, this can gradually change and you need to be alert to that. Often other people can recognise your ‘value’ before you do, and will look at ways to exploit this for their own purpose. Once you start to be approached by other people it is a true sign that you have something of value to others, and you must start to put a value on that. Whilst you may have had many motivations for starting your business you do need to focus on the financial aspects as well.
Focus on the bigger picture. Most businesses start small, as a business owner you do everything for your business. It is very easy to become lost in the day to day and smaller stuff, and not focused enough on the bigger picture, the end result. As the business grows make sure your focus grows with it and learn to distance yourself from the details and delegate out tasks like bookkeeping and admin that can be contracted out. Rather than being the ‘jack of all trades’ you had to be in the beginning your energy can go into planning the direction and growth of the business, and co-ordinating all the people who then make that happen.
Has your business come to a crossroads? Have you had difficult decisions to make? Are you guilty of being distracted by other opportunities? We’d love to hear your thoughts.
