Two Keys Every Small Business Owner Needs 

As someone who has worked with many business owners over the years I often see an all too familiar pattern. Small business owners work too much.

If we look closely, many businesses follow the same path.
1. You work to learn a trade and become good at it.
2. Then you use that knowledge to open your own business.
3. Next is to hire others to begin helping when you can't keep up.
4. You end up being responsible and accountable for the business with no one to rely on.
5. Then you work so hard IN the business that you seldom if ever work ON your business.

Is this you? Even if you have revenue in the millions of dollars you are not immune to this scenario. Your revenue is not the measure of success as some believe. Bottom line profit is the measure of success. How much of the revenue did you really keep as profit?

Successful business owners find great processes combined with a great vision make all the difference.

A vision-less business is a business floundering with no clear direction. Vision is not about making more money or increasing production.

How about these as a vision? 'A computer on every desk'. 'Overnight delivery guaranteed'.

A vision can be helpful in many ways. Vision is the absolute guiding force behind every decision made in the company. Every employee should ask: "Is what I am doing getting our company closer to our vision - or not?" If the answer is no - then they should be encouraged to speak up and the discussion should continue until either the vision is changed or the process is changed.

Vision creates inspiration. Sure most people work for the money - but they will work a heck of a lot harder if they are inspired. A great vision - created by all and communicated daily - is a very powerful force and separates companies that do and those that do not.

Finally, vision is the final result of the processes and procedures that should be in place for every possible task. With those procedures come metrics so everybody knows what is expected - and action can be taken when something is not going well.

With these and other simple but amazingly powerful tools, any business owner can take control of their company, release accountability and responsibility to others - and do what owners are supposed to do. Lead.

Are you leading?


Miami Phillips mentors and teaches business owners how to live have a successful business and personal life. http://www.smallbusinessexpertise.com