The road we travel in business is a rough one at times, then it gets smooth and before we know it it turns to a dusty track with giant potholes.
I’m talking about the everyday challenges we face, be it in getting enough customers, having enough profit, ensuring staff are happy and the $$ are still rolling in…
For many in business it’s like a roller coaster and few things seem to placate this, just experience over time that tells you “here it comes again!”
Apart from experience the business operator needs to have a way of dealing with these situations to ensure they can come out on top, mentally, physically and emotionally (at least!) so to be prepared for these challenges consider a survival kit to help you on your way.
1. Get educated – If its marketing that’s a challenge? Find out how to do it better, If it’s leadership.. FIND out how to be a better leader. Get educated, take short courses, read books and implement it to make it work. I appreciate your time is precious but making time to get this one right will pay big dividends in the long run.
2. Get connected – Find a group of business people you can bounce ideas off, a business forum that provides an active place where ideas get ‘flipped about’ can be useful to help you see others are in a similar boat and there are ways out of it.
3. Hang Loose – Take some time out from your usual routine, go to a park, take a river walk… I care not for the details but give yourself a break… on your own is good, and leave the mobile phone in the car! Rain hail or shine this short break can do wonders to boost your emotional immune system and creativity.
4. Make it inspiring - The workplace is where you spend a lot of time, take a look around and say how inspiring is this place…. Now make alist of what to do and do it bit by bit if you have to, but make it happen to inspire you and your staff.
There you go a few points to help you on the road to business success. It may still have some potholes and challenging uphill sections but the goal at the end just got a fraction easier.
#1 by Dale Gillham on October 20, 2007 - 6:53 pm
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Good points Steve,
Running a small business can be very tough and speaking for myself I wanted to quit a zillion times as I experienced the roller coaster. Would I change things? No, because it all adds to your experience. You cannot know good without knowing bad, therefore it is the tough times that allow us to not only appreciate the good times but prepare us for the next tough time. Believe me I have been through heaps as we have grown our business.
One thing I would add to your comment about getting connected. I would whole heartedly agree. I have been involved in two Mastermind groups and found them a great help and a place to bounce ideas off knowledgeable people. But what we found even better was to get the right people around us in the business which is easier said than done. These people are both internal being staff and external with the right consultants. Our motto is never be afraid to ask for help as no one can know everything.