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Discipline

Guest post by: Craig Jennings

Article Overview: From a ham-fisted parent? To the tune of a kickory stick.

Discipline

Discipline!

Do you get it at the hands of a ham-fisted parent? Is it imposed by a teacher to the tune of a hickory stick? Or is it self-discipline, controlling the raging bull of Id, managing the slings and arrows of outrageous entrepreneurship? However described or imposed, discipline is what many small businesses, and small business owners lack, need, pay lip service to, and ignore!

We can recall when we decided not to report to "the man" any longer. We would be our own boss, make it on our own, with a clear picture of what had to be done, and when, and by whom!

At the same time, we also gave ourselves permission to procrastinate, fudge, wiggle out, or flat-out change our minds - about duties, deadlines and obligations. Sounded pretty good, best of both worlds.

It's why banks are so squirrely about loaning money to young small businesses. It's why 6 million small businesses started up this year. It's also why 40% of them are gone in the first year, 80% in four! Time and capital invested without significant return. Not good stuff.

If you have been troubled by the lack of discipline in your business, for whatever reason, this article is for you.

Recommendation: Get yourself an accountability partner. Someone exterior to your business, to whom you can account. Someone who will manage the responsibility of accountability with understanding, generosity, and fidelity to the strategic, tactical and financial objectives of your business.

Successful businesspeople, like the acrobat above, manage this issue rigorously. By exporting the discipline issue, you can have clear performance targets, hit them or miss them, celebrate your victories and learn from your mistakes (one of the most valuable unpleasant opportunities for a small business operator.) In this way, you have the freedom you seek and avoid some of the real liabilities.

In fact, this article is being written by someone who functions as an accountability partner for about 25 businesses every month. There are other businesses where a legal partner or marital partner fulfills the role, but very few examples, to my knowledge, where the entrepreneur doesn't recognize the need for someone outside of himself, to help maintain the discipline so critical to the small business.

Craig Jennings

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Related Forum Posts
Re: Make millions with this software - Hi ideasprosperity, Very good post. It is a real challenge. I think we all can benefit doing a '30 day challenge', especially as we face so much distraction. One thing I learned from a Internet marketer, do not read the emails several times a day. It results in responding and consequently wastes the time. Just one point I will raise, life can get in the way. Discipline is very important factor to keep going on without getting sidetracked. We benefit by being on course like Mike Dillard suggested: Make a list the night before for the following day. It is good to read the previous post several times so that it will sink in to make a difference. Be encouraged
Re: Cash up front ... or Royalties? - There are so many amazing stories here. Most my inventions were created on the job and are the property of my employer. Cash up front if you are out of options is what some people must do. These people may consider a 5 year contract. This would allow them to renegotiate another license when they are stronger financially. Truth is most people that are in financial trouble today are still in trouble 5 years later. Discipline and control of your own life is priceless. An example of cash up front versus royalties is "Star Wars" Harrison Ford (Hans Solo) took cash up front. He needed the money. Alec Ginness (Obiwankonbi) took royalties. I believe the force is still paying.


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