Sometimes we get into ruts!
We get used to doing business "our way" and we close ourselves off to the possibility that there might be a better way. We repeat the same patterns and produce the same results and our business coasts along but never really grows or evolves to what we had envisioned.
The following story is typical for many of our brands who have helped existing business owners build the business they've always dreamed about:
Take for example, a Mr. Rooter franchisee. Before joining Mr. Rooter, he'd been in the business for more than 15 years and he'd never once left the business behind. On his few short vacations, he always called to check in and even cut a trip short to handle a situation he couldn't leave to his staff. He was extremely proud of the business and yet felt he was the only person who could run it.
Along the way, he started talking to Mr. Rooter and took a long hard look at the business he built. It suddenly dawned on him, after 15 years, he had hit a wall and his business wasn't growing. Revenues were flat and the business was losing market share. Yes, the business was still running...just not efficiently. It was his "a-ha" moment.
"A-ha" moments happen at different times for different people. However, inspiration usually strikes at some point. A moment comes along and makes you think, maybe there is a better way. Everyone says they want to get better. They might even enjoy a few minutes of enthusiastic determination. Nevertheless, life manages to get in the way. Days...weeks...months...years come and go, and the day-to-day work of running your business begins to feel like Groundhog Day.
Have you had an a-ha moment you'd like to share? Comment below!
But let's face it, Groundhog Day is no place to live. Stay in a rut too long and you start to lose interest and feel defeated. When that happens to a business owner the impact can be devastating! So what is a business to do? The following tips may apply to any type of business, brand, or even someone considering the idea of business ownership.
3 Tips to Get You on the Right Track
Here are three things you can do right now to break out of that "doing it, doing it, doing it" cycle. Three things to get you back in touch with the entrepreneur who started your business in the first place.
1. Dream -- Bottom line, you've got to dream about where you want to go before you can start the journey of getting there. Create Your Dream List. Write down the places you want to go...things you want to buy...things you want to accomplish. Look at all of the areas of your life: Spiritual, Family, Social, Physical, Mental and Financial.
2. Plan Your Work -- Solidify your dream list into targets that you would like to accomplish. Pick the dreams that you would like to work on now. Have a clear view of what the target is. Put a timeline to the target. Is this something that you can acomplish in a month or less? One to twelve months? More than a year? Chart your plan.
3. Work Your Plan -- What steps do you need to finish today to keep pace with your chart? Check off the steps that you have finished. Review the steps that are next. Don't ever be surprised to discover where you are and where you have to go.
As the leader of your business, it's important to recognize the needs you have to uphold the level of passion, integrity, motivation and drive you have for your business. Especially during this time of year, take time out to DREAM, PLAN, and WORK on the business which means something to you and your team. Giving yourself the gift of time to wear your "Chief Executive Officer (CEO)" Hat can be one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, your family, your employees, your customers and your business.
After all, aren't you ready for a new year? Is 2017 the time for your "A-ha" moment? Here's to making 2017 your best year ever! Happy New Year!
Comment below to tell us how you will make 2017 the year to act on your a-ha moment!