Let’s be honest, from time to time we all fall into a bit of a business rut. For some reason nothing seems to be working, if there could be a problem there will be a problem, you have issues with staff, customers, suppliers, politicians, global warming – everything and everyone.
First of all, don’t beat yourself up. We all have to deal with business ruts from time to time. The key of course, is to work out how to pull ourselves out of these holes. We fall into a rut for many reasons: sometimes it is more of a financial struggle than we think it should be, sometimes we don’t feel like we are making progress, sometimes we might feel we have lost the challenge of business.
So to help out, here are my Top 10 Tips for pulling yourself out a Business Rut:
1. Get clear on what the issue really is.
It is good to clarify what the REAL issue is. Why are you in a rut? When we are clear about the “why” it becomes much easier to get back on track. We need to put words around it – something like “I don’t feel like I have any challenges in my business” or “it always seems like a financial struggle and I don’t feel like I am getting any closer”. Sometimes it takes time to figure out what the reason is, but I find that once people have figured this out, they get a sense of clarity that enables the right steps to be taken to get them back on track.
2. We need to get back to the reason why?
This is important – we need to have a big enough reason or reasons why we are doing what we are doing. This applies to motivation overall. If there is not a big enough reason to do something, generally we won’t. From my experience people in business can lose their “why” at various stages of their business life. In fact the “why” will change over time, but we need a reason for doing what we do, particularly if at times it is challenging.
3. Remember where you have come from.
I feel that one of the biggest reasons that people fall into a rut is that they don’t feel like they are making any progress. Now, I always try to tell my clients that they need to take lots of photos, keep old brochures, keep printouts of old advertisements, logos, websites, uniforms etc, as a way to measure just how far you have come. We forget about so much of the older stuff, and comparing the old with the new is a wonderful way to feel a sense of progress. I love to look at my first book manuscript – which looks like it was written by an illiterate monkey, just to give me a sense of where I have come from in my writing world.
4. Change things for the sake of changing things.
One piece of advice I have given out many times to people who are in a business rut is to change things around for no other reason than to change. This might be as simple as moving the furniture around in your office, to moving an entire workshop around. One thing I tend to do if I feel I am in a business rut, is to change my logo and corporate branding. Luckily I don’t get into a rut every month, that would be expensive. But a new look for your business does go a long way to reigniting your enthusiasm and passion. I recommend this a lot to tired and worn out businesses.
5. Introduce “NEW”
Introducing or chasing “NEW” is a good way to get fired up as well. From my experience most business owners love the concept of new ideas, new projects, new products, new clients and new money, more than they love the idea of actually doing the work. What “NEW” things can you introduce into your business to get that energy flowing and the enthusiasm back. Is there a project that you really want to do, but it has been sidelined because of other priorities?
6. Have a holiday.
Let’s be honest, there is never a good time to have a holiday, especially when you own your own business. We are always too busy, there is never enough money, and it is the wrong time and so on. I suggest to people that the longer the list of reasons why now is not a good time to have a break, the more important it is they have one. Even a mini break, a day off, a weekend away, anything to help get the mind and the body feeling good. And most importantly of all, do it without GUILT. You are entitled to time off and you need to take time off. Many a business rut is simply caused by fatigue – physical and mental.
7. Goof off.
Being in a rut means that everything is just a little bit harder to do. You tend to spend a lot more time sitting and staring at a computer screen, getting started on projects is hard (normally fear of a looming deadline gets you started) and your overall productivity is about half of what it normally is. Now these are times where I actually think it is OK to goof off for a while. Do something you really love to do, maybe go to a movie, go for a walk, catch up with a friend for a coffee and a chat. It doesn’t really matter what, but do something that gets the endorphins flowing and that will help you to get back into a positive zone.
8. Find a confidante (not a misery buddy)
At times like this it is great to have a good confidante who you can share your feelings and frustrations with. Now this is not a misery buddy, even though they serve a purpose, we don’t want someone who is going to reinforce the fact that you are in a rut and enthusiastically keep you there. This is someone who will listen to you, let you get whatever your issues are off your chest, but they will also be wise enough to help you pinpoint what the REAL issues may be.
9. Get rid of what drives you nuts
Every business has certain things that drive the business owner nuts. This might be a certain customer, a certain piece of equipment, a dumb system that doesn’t work anymore or cupboard full of junk. Now is the time to get rid of at least one thing that drives you nuts. It might just be that one customer who you can never please, who despite everything you do is never happy and who takes up so much of your time that other better customers get neglected. Whatever your one thing is, address it today.
10. Complete your incompletes
I believe so much in this that I have written about it in many places. Whenever I am in funky zone (AKA Business Rut), I find my pile of big, irritating, complicated stuff that I call my “incompletes” and I set about shutting the door, turning off the phone, turning off my email and methodically work my way through all of those things that for whatever reason, I have been putting off. There is nothing better than seeing an empty “in” tray with no incompletes in it. Beautiful.
Now, interestingly enough, all of the above will certainly help to lift you out of a rut, even if there doesn’t seem a logical reason behind it. How on earth can moving your furniture around help you to get your mojo back? I don’t really know, but it does. So if you are in a rut, please try these 10 ideas, they have worked for me, and they have worked for many people I have helped to climb out of their business rut.
Until next time,
Andrew
In the next few days I will be sending out a NEWS FLASH with some big updates on a range of things, including me and Richard Branson, my new book (it’s BIG), the Key Person of Influence Programme and I am releasing my “ULTIMATE SMALL BUSINESS PACKAGE” in the next week. So keep an eye out for this update.
PROFESSIONAL PRESENTERS BOOTCAMP – 26th of August, Cairns
My last Professional Presenters Bootcamp was great and we had a really energetic and diverse group come along and work on their presenting skills. We now have sales people, teachers, lawyers, travel agents, managers, trainers, real estate professionals, business owners, fitness industry professionals, chiropractors, engineers, photographers and IT people who have done this programme, just to list a few. Check out the testimonials on my website and if you are ready to take your presenting skills to the next level, come along on the 26th of August. FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE.
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