Unfortunately, I see it too often; passionate business owners overwhelmed by the constant demands of owning or running a business. Running a business can actually get in the way of running a business!
I have put together some thoughts and key gems of information I have found useful over the years to help you run your business rather than the business run you.
KEEP THE PLAIN THINGS THE MAIN THINGS
Remember why you went into business? I’ll bet it wasn’t to have the most Facebook Fans, Twitter Followers, or hits to a website. I’ll bet you didn’t worry about quarterly taxes, phone book ads, networking groups, or product packaging. Rather, you had a passion for something you did well. From creating crafts to helping people have better skin, you got into business because of a passion.
Step back and write down WHY you went into business. Make this the element your business revolves around.
ESTABLISH CORE VALUES
What is important to you in business? What are values you want evident in your daily operations? Individuals or small companies often avoid core values because they are unnecessarily made too complex. In actuality, they are simple. Make a list of four or five characteristics or goals you have for your business. Core values can range from “Meet 2 new people a day”, “Give away one sample to a needy client”, “Leadership Development”, or “Work above reproach”.
When starting any new business venture, I identify the key values (it could be a word, a short sentence, or a paragraph), type them out, print on nice cardstock, and frame it. These values then sit on my desk or office wall as a constant reminder. When I was faced with difficult decisions, I refer to them for guidance.
For an entire year, the value guiding one of my companies was “Build Relationships”, (Warning: this is a VERY broad value) in everything we did, it was to build and grow employee, customer, vender, and community relationships.
NETWORK. YOUR WAY
Business networking has been bastardized. There is a very real, and a very unfortunate, reason that I refuse to attend or be a part of 99% of business networking groups. Networking, at its core, is about relationships. People don’t care what you know until they know that you care. Too many network-attendees have forgotten that sales do not come from forcing a product down the throat of others; sales come from building a reputable connection with others.
If traditional networking groups have left a bad taste in your mouth, don’t give up on it altogether. Instead, call up a business owner with similar clients, or something you have an interest in. Buy them coffee and get to know them. Ask about their business, how they got started, their perfect client, etc. In return, share a little about your business. Don’t sell them anything, just talk to them.
This relaxed atmosphere does not lend itself to “Buy My Stuff Now” marketing, but rather facilitates relational-networking. I guarantee that person will remember you for years after your meeting.
TO-DO, TO-DO, TO-DO
One of the best pieces of advice I have ever received tackles the “To-Do List”. The list that keeps us awake at night, never gets shorter, and – eventually – gets abandoned in the dark abyss of offices everywhere.
The advice I received was: keep 2 lists.
What? How does that help me!?
They explained, keep two lists. One for “Today (or “Current Project”) and one for “Long-Term Goals & Ideas”. Ah! It seemed so logical.
Think about how often you have gone to bed discouraged that you didn’t finish everything on your list. But how many of those tasks needed to be finished today? Maybe you did 5, 6, or 7 small things, but are dreading the big ones – break it up! Break up huge projects into smaller tasks.
I jot down ideas for businesses that may never come to fruition, those ideas and tasks used to take up room on my “To-Do” list, now I am okay knowing that they don’t need to get done today and don’t discourage me from attacking the “Today List”
YOU CAN’T DO EVERYTHING – AND THAT IS OK
I hate payroll. Hate it. I hate adding everything up, inputting data into QuickBooks, managing new tax tables, etc. I hated it so much I would avoid going into the office on Thursday before payday. It actually crippled my desire to do other work – the work I loved!
It took me awhile to realize that my effort to save money was actually costing me more. I didn’t hire a bookkeeper because of the added expense to my young company, but I didn’t factor the time I was spending 1) avoiding work, 2) managing payroll, and 3) staying educated on new rules, etc.
I worked out a deal with my bookkeeper to exchange services – they were ecstatic to get free and discounted samples and I was relieved to not have to touch QuickBooks again!
Who can you exchange services for to lighten your load?
BONUS: ASK FOR HELP
There are thousands of business owners out there, and most of them are willing to help others. If you are truly stumped, ask for help.
What tips would you suggest for those struggling with running their business?
Join Shaun Nestor of Never Mind Marketing on April 30, 2010 for a hands-on class about using social media easily, ethically, and effectively to promote your business.
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