Does your business work for you or do you work for it?
Often we end up working to a schedule that suits everyone else but you. It doesn’t have to be that way.
Some people work better in the morning than in the afternoon, while others are the opposite. Some people like to exercise in the middle of the day and flourish with a couple of hours to go to the gym. The key here is that it is better to work in the manner that suits you than try to fit your life in around your work. Often all it takes is a change in mindset.
Many of my clients plan their trading hours and the days they work around their lifestyle. It is very empowering to do this. The counterargument for many people is that they have to be open for their customers—and yes, this is very relevant for some businesses, but not for all. And even if your business has to be open at certain hours, do you have to be there at those times?
Don’t let perceptions, yours or others, stop you from making changes.
A big part of this tip is about letting go of perceptions. Many business owners live in a state of near terror over changing anything to do with their customers. They don’t want to change the business name or the logo or the brand, or the hours the business is open, or the products or services being offered. But while I am an advocate of consistency when it comes to delivering a product or service, customers are much more open to change than most business owners think. In fact, they like it—because it shows that the business is getting evolving.
Think about it for a moment. If you are working like a dog and you’re exhausted, lacking in enthusiasm and not really having a jolly time, do you think that your customers can’t see or feel this? If you change the way you work so that it suits your lifestyle and needs better, you will be much more energetic and engaging at work, and your customers will get a far better level of service and a more enjoyable experience. You simply need to be brave enough to do it.
We have to start by taking stock of what we like and what we don’t like.
The first step in the process is analysing how you actually like to work. If you aren’t a morning person (whatever that means), then arrange your business so you don’t have to be there in the morning. If you find it hard to get anything done at work because you are constantly being distracted by the demands of staff, suppliers and others, work from home one day each week and give clear instructions on who can contact you and for what. I have found I get more done in one day at home than I do for the rest of the week at work. It is amazing.
The traditional way of doing business is often not applicable in the modern world. Set up your business to suit you. If you are planning on going into business for yourself, think about this long and hard before you make your move. Buy or start a business that suits the way you want to live. If you are a night person don’t buy a newsagency. If you are a recovering alcoholic it probably isn’t a good idea to buy a nightclub. If you are afraid of sharks don’t become a commer¬cial diver. You get the drift, as silly as my examples might be. Make your business work for you, rather than you work for it.
Today is the day to make the changes you need to make.
What one simple change can you introduce to your business today that will make it suit your lifestyle better than it does now? Implement this change—tell your staff, tell your customers, tell anyone you want to, but make the change.
Until next week, build that business of your dreams.
Andrew
PS I have just run two more Professional Presenters Bootcamps – one in Cairns and one in Townsville. The response has been fantastic and I had a blast on both workshops. I have just locked in the next event in Cairns – February 3rd. There will only be 20 spots and we have already had 8 people book in, so it looks like it will fill pretty quick. Click on the following link if you would like to start 2011 with a big injection of energy, new skills and new people. PROFESSIONAL PRESENTERS BOOTCAMP – FEB 3, 2011
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