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Taming the Small Business Beast
by Kristie Tamsevicius
Published on this site: August 14th, 2006 - See
more articles from this month
The entrepreneurial life. yes that's the life for me. Being your own boss
can afford you the freedom to work when you please, do what you want,
and spend more time with your family. It's true, owning a small business
can be a dream come true, or a nightmare if you let it be.
There are untold dangers to be had with owning a business. Without careful
and deliberate attention, a business that wasonce designed to suit your
needs may easily turn on you like a growling fearsome creature that keeps
you trapped in thecorner. How do you tame the small business beast?
Here are a few tips to help you keep control of your growing small
business:
- Trap: The Endless Workload - Running in circles to stay "caught
up" How many of us have had a day that starts at 6 am - no shower
- crunching on a dry piece of toast only to come across a major client
emergency. In between getting the kids off to school, buying milk because
you are out, and attending a client meeting at 2 and hoping it will
end so you can get home in time to you're your child up from the school
bus.
Answer: We all have days like this - that's life -- but you can
make sure those days are the exception and not the rule.
Create a plan before your start your day. Make efficient use of your
time. Group your tasks into "doable" chunks.
Set a definite schedule and stick to it. Don't work during family time.
Let your family know how important they are to you by honoring them
with your total presence during that family time. Honor yourself by
taking that time off to live your life, renew, and dream new dreams.
If you started your business to make more time for your life, than make
sure you are actually taking that time to do so.
Stop working on time. Set your key "must do" priorities for
the day and let the rest slide. How many times have you said , "I'll
do just one more thing and then I'll be caught up." It never really
happens now does it? As your small business blossoms, so will the growing
list of clients and your personal "to do" list along with
it.
- Trap: Complete Overwhelm:Blurred Vision - Panic - Lack of Focus
Answer: Someone wise once said, "You have to say NO, in order
to say yes". Take time to carefully consider each opportunity you
are presented to see if it's right for you. You have to make space in
your life so MAGIC once in a lifetime opportunities arrive in gleaming
gold ribbon at your doorstep you have room to accept them.
Look up - there's a whole world beyond your work desk! Don't keep
your nose so close to the grindstone a.k.a. computer screen - remember
to think about what you are doing, why you are doing it, and if you
want to be moving in that direction. Clarity makes it easier to boldly
use your "no" muscle and take back control. Having a clear
vision also evokes the "law of attraction" and before you
know it, the universe starts pulling toward you the things you want
most in your life
- Trap:
Taking every client and job that comes along When I was first starting
out, I made the mistake of thinking that I should take every client
and job that came my way. After all isn't that what business is about
- being busy is how you make money right? Wrong !
Being smart about how you invest your time and talents is the true path
to success. Working with the "wrong" clients can be very costly
both in terms of money lost and in personal terms. This is especially
true if you are offering a service that taps into your personal talents.
Answer: If a potential client approaches you and your gut says
"this is not right" than you need to trust your gut and get
out. I've been taken for money and taken personally on disastrous paths
by not trusting that little voice.
Before you take on a new client ask yourself these questions:
"Will I enjoy working with them?"
"Will this project be fulfilling for me?"
"Will I be able to charge enough to make it worth my while?"
"Do I have time/room/space for this client right now?"
"Is this person dangerous, do I trust them?"
"Is this person going to demand more of me than I am willing to
give?"
If the answer to any of those questions is no than politely decline
or refer them on. By being clear about who your ideal client is you
will attract those clients. When you work with the right clients, you
do your best work. When you do your best work, clients are thrilled,
they'll gladly refer you, and before you know it you'll have clients
lining up at your door. I can tell you personally, this has worked very
well for me. I now work with a "family" of clients whom I
dearly love. When I am happy, I can do AMAZING creative things. My clients
love the personal attention and service. It creates a self-propelling
circle of prosperity for all involved.
- Trap: Busy Body Syndrome:
Family? Social Life - What is that?
As odd as it may seem, the very business you started so that you could
spend more time with your kids can easily turn to into a wall that keeps
you from doing just that.
Answer: Stick to definite work hours. Learn how to slow down
and unwind during off hours. Stay in touch with friends. Pamper yourself.
Creating a routine such as drinking a cup of hot tea, or changing to
comfy clothes to help you mentally switch to "relaxation"
time.
Stop to enjoy the impromptu kisses, songs, and pretty pictures your
kids offer you. If your child wants a moment, stop, breathe, give it
to him, enjoy the special feeling of that moment.then move on. Parents
are fabulously gifted at multitasking. But don't make the mistake of
multitasking your family. They deserve all of you (and you need it too).
So - keep that business roped - That plan in hand
They say in life that if you get stepped on enough there will come a day
when you become strong enough to stand up for yourself. Take your small
business by the horns and hog tie it shape it, mold it, and manage it
to be a vehicle to support the life you have always wanted. When you are
very clear about what and who you are, people find that very attractive.
Nothing makes clients happier than knowing and actually getting exactly
what they expected (and more)! Be good to yourself and your family.
Enjoy what you do and the clients with whom you do it. Success and happiness
are simple really, know what you want, and then create that..
Kristie Tamsevicius, is the author of "I Love My Life: A
Mom's Guide to Working from Home"! Thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs
have used her step-by-step home business system to earn money working
from home. Get a free ecourse Home Business Success Secrets at http://www.webmomz.com/ilovemylife1.htm
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