The other day a business client said to me, “Why don’t I just do this stuff? I know how to do it. I know it needs to be done, but I don’t do it.”
Fairy Godmother Casey Dawes of Wise Woman Shining and author of this article asks..
What’s it?
It is the big rocks in your business that we avoid. It’s working in our business and not on it. It’s lack of planning, lack of reviewing, lack of analysis. Why don’t we do it?
For many of us, it’s fear. What if I stop long enough to plan? Won’t my business get away from me? Won’t my clients/customers leave because they see I’m not paying attention? If I don’t get to that networking meeting, people will forget me and then I won’t get a new client. We’re like the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, always rushing around saying we are late.
From the time I took my first job at an A & P supermarket in New Jersey, I’ve been told to “look busy” even if there was nothing to do. In the corporate world, sitting around with your feet on the desk thinking just wasn’t done (except by the big boys), particularly for a woman. And I carry that attitude into my own business most of the time. If I’m not sitting at the computer typing, then I’m not really working, am I?
Can you relate to this? Are you scurrying around and panicking when there’s nothing “TO Do,” even though your to do list is long.
If this is a slow season for you, seize the opportunity! If it’s a crazy season for you, plan for a few weeks once the holiday rush is over. What should you do?
Business Plan: If you don’t have a business plan, make one. Check your actual income and expenses against an old one and update it.
Marketing Plan and Budget: Plan out what you will spend your marketing plan and budget on in the coming year. Also determine how you will learn about the effectiveness of your marketing.
Contact Management: Figure out how to manage the contacts you do make at networking meetings, and how to follow up with clients and customers you do have in order to retain them.
Finances: Get with a financial consultant and learn the reports you need to review on a regular basis to see how your business is doing.
Read: Read a business book or two. Take a class. Learn something new, even if its a new way to make meat loaf!
Tell us, what do you “avoid”and how do you intend to get into action mode?
Casey Dawes of Wise Woman Shining supports women business owners to claim their power, increase their prosperity and have the lifestyle they want. She’s had multiple careers from being a stage-hand at an Actor’s Equity theatre in New England to running an international multi-million dollar software users group. Currently she’s a business consultant/coach working out of her home in Aptos, California.
Excellent advice. I will pass it on, Thank you.
Angelas last blog post…New Year
You are absolutely right about the “look busy” mentality. That is the biggest reason why I separated from the military. I felt like they were wasting my time and talent on “looking busy.”
Now that I’m out and trying to start up my business – I still get into the mindset of doing busy work. I need to tackle the big projects that I have, basically, been too scared to start. Thank you for the great advice!