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Working ON Your Business, and Not IN Your Business!

Guest post by: Pat Mussieux

Article Overview: I have met a lot of women entrepreneurs who feel like they are 'drowning' because of all that they are doing, each and every day! They are spending so much time on the nitty-gritty details and so much energy working 'in' their business, that they have lost sight of the big picture - of the 'why' they are doing what they are doing.

Working ON Your Business, and Not IN Your Business!

I have met a lot of women entrepreneurs who feel like they are 'drowning' because of all that they are doing, each and every day! They are spending so much time on the nitty-gritty details and so much energy working 'in' their business, that they have lost sight of the big picture - of the 'why' they are doing what they are doing.

"When goals go, meaning goes. When meaning goes, purpose goes. When purpose goes, life goes dead on our hands." - Carl Jung, Swiss Psychiatrist

Case in point: my client made the decision to change her life - in her mid-forties. Many women feel like 'it's too late', once they have reached the age of 40. Not my client!

She actually followed in my own footsteps - a year after me! It began with the dream - quickly followed by the belief, that all was possible. One of the success factors, in this case, is that she saw someone else (who was older - me!) make a significant change. Oftentimes, that is what we need - to walk in someone's footsteps for a while.

"Never look down to test the ground before taking your next step; only he who keeps his eye fixed on the far horizon will find his right road." - Dag Hammarskjold

As you keep your eye on the dream, it's essential to put together the implementation plan/steps to get you to the dream.

Where we get caught up is in the small, minute details of running the business. What my client did so effectively was this:

1. Had the dream - created the vision (in this case, she used a vision board).

2. Created a Backward Planning process for bringing it to reality - looking at the dream, and working backwards, what needed to happen to bring it all to fruition.

3. She put dates beside each of the items and held herself accountable.

4. She put together a team that would help her, and support her, with both the tangible and intangible aspects of the dream.

5. She communicated the dream to the team on a regular and consistent basis.

6. She focused on progress, not perfection.

7. She took baby steps - always keeping her eye on the big picture!

8. She did a 'reality check' on a regular basis and re-aligned where/when necessary.

9. She celebrated each of the successes along the way.

10. When something didn't work out according to plan, she picked herself up and carried on.

11. She made sure that the vision/the dream was so strong and powerful (in both words and pictures), that there was no need to 'look back'. (That's where many people make the mistake!)

12. She hired the 'right people' to sit on the 'right seat' on her 'bus' (reference: "From Good to Great" by Jim Collins)

"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it, you will land among the stars". - Lester Louis Brown

CONCLUSION

It's easy to get so caught up in the details of our dream, that we become overwhelmed? For many women in business, we have that 'I've got to do it myself' syndrome. That kind of thinking is not going to get you anywhere. It's critical to sit back and remember the 'why' - Why are you doing this? What difference will it make? And who really cares? Hold that in your heart and in your thoughts - and then keep putting one foot in front of the other. You can do this!

YOUR ASSIGNMENT

1. Take a 'time out' to reflect on the 'why' of your business.

2. Be sure to write that down - in powerful, visual and emotional words.

3. Pay attention to your daily routine - what minute details (that you are handling now) can be delegated? Do it!

You can develop the confidence and courage to take charge of your life and of your business.. You have the power! You will be much more confident and successful in the overall scheme of things when you do.

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Article Tags: Being an entrepreneur, Confidence and courage, Marketing and Mindset, Pat Mussieux, Self Growth, Setting Goals, Time Management, women entrepreneurs



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