What does that even mean?
It doesn’t matter if you’re in the early stages of your business or 10-15 years down the line, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day running of it.
You become so invested in the operational aspect of your business and if it’s just you, it means you are doing everything. If you have a team, what is your involvement? Do you still find yourself getting involved in meetings discussing the finest of details, giving your input on things that you should leave alone and paying invoices?
From the conversations I have with other business owners, I often hear how it’s all about ensuring client deadlines are met and when I ask about the bigger picture stuff, there isn’t much emphasis on it. Admin gets squeezed in as and when but plans and ideas don’t get executed because of a lack of time.
I have also witnessed it from slightly bigger businesses and execs in the corporate world. Business life takes over, personal growth and progression can take a back seat.
The bigger picture
If any of this resonates with you, it’s time to change your thinking.
While you continue to put so much time and energy into the day-to-day running of your business, any plans and ideas you have will stay that way.
Whether you are thinking of future growth, increased profit or earning more for doing less, unless you actively take steps to change your approach, you might struggle to achieve your goals.
It doesn’t matter if it’s just you or you have a team, it’s important to have the right mindset and to allocate time for your business. You need to start thinking as a leader, you are the CEO of your business.
Strategy for success
First of all, you need to identify what your goals are? What do you want to achieve over the next year, 3-5 years and beyond? I am a huge fan of mind maps but whatever approach you prefer, write down what your goals are?
What does success look like for you?
Now it’s time to think about making those goals a reality.
Personally, I often work backwards to think about all the components that need to happen and yes, you’ve guessed it, I would do this in the form of a mind map. This is a really important process because it’s a way of breaking the goal down into smaller chunks and from there you can start to think about how it can be achieved.
Don’t be afraid of KPIs (key performance indicators) because they can act as a great way to keep track of your performance because if you don’t have someone holding you accountable, the trackers can give you that.
Next step, can you do this all on your own? If you already have a team, do you have the ‘right’ people for what you need.
It’s also about looking at your existing business model and auditing it to see if it fits with where you are now and where you want to be.
Don’t forget about YOU, your own personal development, time for networking and building relationships, being the face of your business in terms of PR and guest speaking slots.
Speculate to accumulate
Time is money, I understand that but it’s important to set time aside for you to focus on the bigger picture and to think strategically.
If you find yourself constantly firefighting, you will feel like an employee rather than the business owner and if that is the case, ask yourself why you started your own business. What was your ‘why’?
If this is resonating with you and you really don’t know where to start with all this, get in touch. Not everyone is a natural strategic thinker and sometimes, it’s a case of you don’t know what you don’t know or you need an objective thinker.
Alternatively, maybe you know exactly what you need to do but you don’t have an accountability partner and you know that’s what you need. Someone to make sure you take those steps to achieve progress and to give you the nudge when you need it and to be a sounding board for you. If that’s what you need, get in touch and we can discuss ways in which I can help you.
About Louisa van Vessem
Hey there! I’m Louisa, and I’m all about teaming up with freelancers, business owners, entrepreneurs, and contractors to help ignite your journey to success.
Think of me as your go-to creative companion, business confidante, and your personal sounding board and cheerleader, all rolled into one. My goal? To serve up a mix of awesome ideas, strategic wisdom, crystal-clear guidance, and a dash of accountability and camaraderie. We’re not just about the destination. We’re all about enjoying the ride and keeping things refreshingly simple and fun.
If you’re on the lookout for a friendly guide to help navigate your business adventures, I’m all ears! Let’s grab a virtual cuppa and chat about the exciting possibilities ahead. Can’t wait to connect!
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Don’t worry, I’m not spending lots of time on social media, I repurpose content across channels at different times.
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