This question and answer series of articles provides scenarios for business owners to find answers to business frustrations.
Q: I’m beginning to realise that doing business and running a business are two separate things. However, I’m not really clear on how I need to be thinking to run the business and make it really successful.
You are absolutely right. On the one hand you have ‘the practice’ and on the other ‘the business’. One is about what the business does and how it does it and the other is about the business of running and managing a business.
Too many practitioners think they are running a business, but really all they are doing is keeping themselves in a job.
Start looking at the business management side of the equation. Stand back and see the bigger picture and determine what you want it to be, remembering that if the business depends on you to function, all you are doing is keeping yourself in work and won’t ever be able to get off that treadmill until you or someone else turns it off.
Ask yourself what you really want to achieve. How do you want the business to be perceived by its existing and potential clients? Employees? Suppliers? In other words put some thinking into the business of business.
Your role is to formulate the vision and set the goals; to build the culture; to motivate and influence your people. Once you have done that, you can begin to put your thoughts into action – always with the end point clearly in mind.
How much time are you spending doing that now?
My guess, and your answer if you are really honest with yourself, is ‘not enough’.
Q: I’ve been reading your column for more than a year now – and I think I’m beginning to get it. I understand the concepts, but where do I start?
Get a coach. Seriously. I know you might think, ‘Well she would say that.’ Look at the sporting world. Do you think Ian Thorpe would have achieved all he did without a coach? Can a team reach the top without advice and leadership from a coach? Doubtful. Getting to where you want to go in business takes knowledge, application and discipline. I have no doubt you have discipline to do the stuff your business does every day. You wouldn’t be where you are if you didn’t. Building your business into something that will serve you instead of the other way around takes a different kind of discipline, which you don’t necessarily have right now, but which you can develop. It’s like exercising a new thinking muscle. And it’s committing to do the work that needs to be done. Sure we can make the commitment to ourselves, but how many times do we put those commitments on the back burner because an important client calls, or there’s a bushfire to be put out in the business? When an athlete makes a commitment to a coach, they focus on meeting it. The same applies to a business coach. They are not there to do it for you (more’s the pity I hear you cry). They are there to show guide and direct you in what you need to do and keep you on track to becoming the leader and manager you want to be.
Watch for Part Twenty-Three…coming soon!
Until next time…
P.S. Learn more about working ON your business–talk to the coach! Click here to connect with me!