Do I Have a Job or a Business?

When you start a business it is fairly normal to have to do a little bit of everything. New business owners find themselves turning on the lights, taking out the garbage, putting paper in the copier, getting keys made, turning off the lights, calling the repair man, answering the phone, taking orders, filling orders, running errands, etc., etc., etc. Usually you're the only one to do these things.

However, while it is normal and usually necessary to begin this way, it is extremely unwise to continue this way. In fact, if you continue in that mode, you eventually hurt your own productivity, you hurt your relationships, and you hinder your business from growing.

What if you get sick? What if you want to take a day off? What if your family wants to spend a few days with your undivided attention and affection? What if you want to take a vacation? What if you want to read a book, go to the lake, work in the garden, do something other than go to work?

If your business depends on you, you don't own a business - you just have a job. And as many have said, it's the worst job in the world because you're working for a lunatic! The purpose of going into business is to get free of a job so you can create jobs for other people.

In our coaching process we help you learn to work more "ON" your business and less "IN" your business. My definition of a successful business is this: "It is a profitable enterprise that consistently delivers on its promise, and it runs without you." Let me encourage you to create more than a job - create a business that you can be proud of, that makes money without your constant effort, and that one day you can sell for a fortune. Let us help you!

Prioritization: The Key to Success and Life Balance

There are two things that are most difficult to get people to do: To think & to get people to do things in order of importance. - John Maxwell

More than ever before in history people are over-loaded with information, to-do's, opportunities to consider, problems to solve, and relationships to manage (just to name a few.) In order to succeed we must develop 3 critical skills.

1. We must learn to set daily and weekly priorities. Every day is a challenge, so we need to start our day with clarity on what's most important for that day. The same is true for every week. However, this must not be decided in a vacuum. Each day and week we should review the bigger picture (e.g. your 90-day strategic plan and your 1-3 year vision.) With the bigger picture and longer perspective in mind, we can set daily & weekly priorities that will move us toward the life, business, and goals that we truly desire.
2. We must learn to delegate everything possible. I hear my clients say "Nobody can do it right" or "My staff is just too busy." Let me be blunt: These are terrible excuses for not delegating! If someone can do something 80% as well as you can, delegate it! They'll most likely improve if given the opportunity. If you do not have team members who can do the things you do at least 80% as well, your priority needs to be either training or replacing staff! "But they already have too much to do" you might say. The truth is, our time will always fill up with stuff. Chances are they will never have time. So delegate things that are important to you, and help them to prioritize. If you don't, they will be constantly busy doing things that are not the priority!
3. Say "No" to the obvious low-value, low priority stuff. I call this "clutter." You and I are attacked by clutter daily. If you don't have the ability to evaluate the obvious clutter quickly, and then say "No", you will not accomplish the most important things. If the clutter is not obvious to you, take a few minutes every week and make a list of the low-value, low-priority activities you engaged in the previous week. Consciously start saying "No" to those things. Also, start setting your priorities and watch what does NOT get done by the end of the day. These are clues to the clutter as well. If you prioritize and you get to the end of the day, you've eliminated the clutter, and there are still mission critical priorities on your list that aren't getting done, most likely then you have a delegation problem. Go back to step 2.

One final thought, many people tell me "Everything is a priority." That's just not true! If everything is a priority, then nothing is a priority. That's just an excuse for not having the skill or will to set priorities.

This may be one of the most difficult challenges you face on a daily basis. Train yourself and discipline yourself to prioritize. If you need help, get a coach or an accountability partner. But DO IT! Prioritization is the key to your success and happiness!

The Power of Coaching

If you know me, you know that I place a very high value on coaching! I do this not because it is my career, but because COACHING WORKS! If you have not worked with a coach recently chances are you are not growing! The difference between extraordinary business owners and the rest is that the extraordinary business owners never stop growing personally and professionally! Almost all highly successful business owners have engaged a coach.

A good coach recognizes that the internal obstacles are often more daunting than the external ones! Coaching is about unlocking a person's potential to maximize their own performance. A coach will help you grow in self awareness. He will also help you chart a course for change, growth, and confidence! A coach will empower you to make choices that will significantly improve your game. Contact us - you need a coach!