Remember when you started the business. You never stopped thinking about it and you were so excited to get to work. Then life got in the way. Challenges started showing up – customers don’t pay, the pandemic happened, staff got sick, etc. Here are some things you can do to bring the excitement, enthusiasm and revive the passion.
Delegate what you are not good at or the mundane tasks. When I focus on my strengths, I have more energy to get everything done. Time goes by quickly and I do my very best work. In order to do more of the tasks you are good at, delegate the mundane ones. Once each day, stop and ask yourself is this the best use of my time? Is there someone else who could do it better? Then take action to pass that task on to someone else.
Be grateful for what you do and have. It is easy to take for granted what we have every day. In your own business you have the choice as to when you will start your day, the customers you will work with, the employees you surround yourself with and the list goes on. Now there are consequences from those choices, but still, they are your choices. To create the awareness of the wonderful things, every day write down 3 things that you are grateful for in your business. Then to up the game – write down what you are excited about.
Take time to plan. Once a week stop spinning the hamster wheel and look at what is happening. Plan. Per Brian Tracy “Every minute you spend in planning saves 10 minutes in execution; this gives you a 1,000 percent Return on Energy!” Plan to make sure you are doing the right stuff, with the right information with the right tools for the right people. You will get more done and enjoy the success.
Sharpen your saw. Take time to learn something new. Procrastination sets in when I am unsure how to proceed. Listening to an hour webinar or reading the instructions that will help get the job done and make the process easier. Take time to learn more about technology and the tools that you do use.
Upgrade your customers. We choose our customers, sometimes unconsciously. Based on the 80/20 rule, keep the 20% of your customers that provide 80% of your profit. At the very least know which customers are funding your bottom line.
Keep a victory board. Keep the thank you notes, the wonderful comments your customers tell you. Post them on a board. Get testimonials from your best customers and post them. When we lose energy, get bogged down by a project or make a mistake- look at your victory board. It reminds us of why we do what we do and see proof of the good that we do achieve.
Take action to reduce your stress. Confront the problem customer, problem employee or vendor that is not delivering. It may go away on its own, but by taking action you reduce the stress.
All of these suggestions require you to take time to work on your business. I have found little changes can greatly improve your passion and your financial rewards.
By Mary Guldan-Lindstrom, CPA
