Work on your business, not in it...
Work on your business, not in it...
This quote is a good reminder that one of the key aspects of successful entrepreneurs is the ability to maintain an overall vision of how their company is performing, and, more important, whether it’s still going in the intended direction. Less successful entrepreneurs get bogged down in the day-to-day running of things, and when this happens, businesses drift.
Delegate
If you’re the boss, you must let people you hire get on and do things. Especially if you are hiring people for the first time, it can be a huge wrench to let them do a task you’re used to doing yourself. Almost undoubtedly, they won’t do it as well as you would have done – but if they have done it well enough, and freed up your time to do more important things, then you are ahead.
Have a mentor
A mentor will keep your ‘eyes on the prize’ – what you are in business for and how you plan to reach that goal. He or she will ask all those difficult questions to which the reply often is ‘I haven’t really thought about that recently – I’ve been so busy…’
Take time off work
Workaholism is a dangerous addiction. Take time out to go out for a walk or to visit somewhere new: when you do so, try and get a new perspective on your business.
Talk to customers
As leader of the business, this is one of your key jobs. Customers will be pleased that ‘the boss’ can be bothered to talk to them, and will tell you many things that your own people either won’t find out or won’t tell you.
Wear different hats
If you are a one-person business, you still have to do all these things. OK, there’s no-one to delegate to, but you should get used to wearing the different ‘hats’ required to make your business succeed – sales, finance, delivery etc. Remember there is a ‘boss’ hat too: when you wear this, take the long view and ask those key questions, ‘Am I heading in the right direction, as effectively as I should?’
Chris West
Beermat Entrepreneur and Business Writer
www.beermat.biz
For more useful tips and suggestions, why not visit the Business Link website? www.businesslink.gov.uk/southeast
