As we create our businesses more often than not we get caught up in the day to day firefighting strategies. What we don’t do because there isn’t enough time in the day, no one has figured out how to clone ourselves and/or we don’t see the immediate value is define a future strategy. It’s easy to spend so much time in our businesses that we don’t work on them, so here are a few tips to try to make sure that we don’t lose the big picture.
Define Milestones
Now this sounds like a pain and I can already see how some of you will think, “I have enough pressure just trying to make payroll, I don’t need to invent some more”. The reality though, is that when we have milestones we never have the opportunity to lose focus. When we don’t lose focus all of our actions are viewed from a ‘how can this help me achieve my goal’ mentality?
Network
I have said it before but I am going to get on my soapbox and say it again. You have to get out of your business and meet people. Remember networking isn’t about making your next sale and if the only reason you want to talk to someone is to get them to buy from you, you aren’t working on your business. You need to build relationships so that you can position yourself for an opportunity that grows your business in size or market share.
Define Innovation
Innovation is like a new business buzzword, but it really means something unique and new to your company. Is there something that you think can be improved? If so get some of your best and brightest together and start brainstorming. Maybe you won’t create the next Facebook, but you might just find the perfect solution to one of your customer problems.
Be Known for Something
Every company does something, that’s why they are in business. You want to standout. If you do something completely differently from your competitors, talk about it and brand it. Be you and be different.
The key to success is working on your business and getting out of that worker bee mentality. Tasks completed can’t grow your business or steer it to success, that’s your job. So do it.
Leona, I believe that your first point for many is the most important, at least it is for me, because not only does having milestones keep up focused but it also helps us make decisions easier and quicker.
Thanks for the comment Erica! I really think that it is important to understand where you are and where you want to go. For many business owners thinking about the future is overwhelming but if you don’t know what you want, how can you get there?!
Agreed…or what also happens is that they don’t even realize that they have actually accomplished something.