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7 Tips for the Overworked Business Owner
by Brent Dees
Published on this site: October 14th, 2006 - See
more articles from this month
- Train the overhead monster – delegate, organize, disconnect.
You feel like nothing will run smoothly without you and the idea of
letting go feels scary, but you have to do it. Your business cannot
grow until you learn to let others do some of the work. Plus, it's no
fun trying to do it all and having no life; everyone, including your
business, suffers.
- Do your thing.
What makes you money? Do that the most. If you don't know what your
"payday activity" is, take a few moments and figure it out.
Depending on your business, usually the money-making activity is that
which you created the business around (designing a home, fixing a cavity,
doing someone's taxes, etc.)
- Make employee relationships comfortable.
Clearly define, and communicate, expectations, procedures, and consequences
of not following them. Employees shouldn't wonder what
they are supposed to do, or what will happen if they don't do it well.
If needed, create an employee handbook or, better yet, hire someone
else to do this for you.
- Can your office run without you?
It needs to. Your procedures and systems should be so fool-proof
and clearly outlined that you can walk away for a golf game or vacation
without the blackberry. Yes, we are serious and yes, we have shown hundreds
of business owners how to do this and still be wildly successful.
- In 3 years, what do you want your business to look like?
If you can't answer this, you'll never get there. 97% of people do not
write their goals down. Only 1% of those actually look at them. Ever
go on a road trip without a destination? Frustrating, time consuming,
and very unrewarding. Don't run your business this way. Take the time
to establish what you want, personally and professionally.
- Your business is the tool, life is the goal.
If you've forgotten how to maintain work/life balance, something or
someone is suffering as a result. If your friends and family don't see
enough of you, they are suffering. If you don't have time outside of
work to have friends and family, you are suffering.
- "Whether You Think You can or You Think You can't, You're
Right" – Henry Ford.
Can you make changes? Ford's quote is painfully true. If you're convinced
that your business will never get to the point where you can vacation
in Hawaii worry-free, then it won't. If you're convinced it will, guess
what – you're right.
Brent Dees - teaches business owners from around the world how
to set and achieve personal and business goals in his Focus Four classes,
http://www.focusfour.com.
He is sought after by business, professional and civic groups as a keynote
speaker, provides continuing education training to CPAs, and delivers
programs on practice management to dental study clubs. Dees is the author
of numerous articles on financial planning and previous host of the popular
radio program Financially Speaking.
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