True confessions . . .

Real world business owner sound bites . . . Can you identify with any of them?

[  ]  I'm frustrated with my sales people's attitudes.
[  ]  It seems like I just keep working longer hours.
[  ]  "Aruba, Bahamas, Jamaica, Cozumel . . ." I wish I could get away.
[  ]  Customers are taking longer and longer to pay. Don't they know I have bills to pay, too?
[  ]  Life used to be so carefree. What happened?
[  ]  I'm really blessed. I just don't know what to do now.
[  ]  Business seems to have plateaued and I'm not sure what to do.
[  ]  My favorite day of the work week is Friday. My least favorite day is Monday.
[  ]  I like my job. I just can't say that I'm excited about it.
[  ]  Why do consultants always think there's something to be fixed? Maybe I'm o.k. with the way things are.
[  ]  My anxiety always increases at the end of the month.
[  ]  If I just hang on a little longer the economy will turn around and I'll be o.k.
[  ]  I just spent thousands of dollars on an "expert's advice." Look what I have to show for it!
[  ]  Vision? Who has time for vision?
[  ]  "Show me the money!"
[  ]  I've thought about selling everything and running away to sell t-shirts on the beach.
[  ]  Business is great. We're growing so fast I can't keep up. (But it does make me a little nervous.)
[  ]  I don't have anyone to talk to about these things.
[  ]  I feel like I am always having to mop up other people's messes.
[  ]  Work ethic? Why can't people come to work and do their job without me having to hold their hand?
[  ]  Why should I trust anyone?
[  ]  I have lots of good achievements I'd like to talk about.
[  ]  I've got everything I need. In fact, I'd rather be at the office making money than at home.
[  ]  I've got all the motivational-sales-management books and CDs. They all say the same things. Just between you and me, I think I'm still missing something.
[  ]  My friends tell me I need to relax.
[  ]  I've seriously thought about doing something different. I just don't know what.
[  ]  You wouldn't believe how much money I've lost over the past two years. It's really caused me to ask myself some serious questions about the future.

Perhaps you would like to take advantage of one hour of encouragement. Through then end of May 2010 I am offering a no-cost no-obligation hour of listening and encouragement. No strings attached.

Call 763-205-1527 and let me put some wind in your sails.
A.Furst@theGrowthCoach.com

Time for a Check Up

Having been a small business owner since 1990, I have had to face a lot of different dynamics in business. Perhaps the hardest things to face were those that were closest to my own pride and achievement. I much prefer to project the image of self-sufficiency, success, achievement, and “I’ve got it all together.” Very rarely did I find myself able to speak with someone honestly about what others could not see but that I could.

In business it is imperative to face reality. Identifying and owning up to a problem goes a long way towards solving it. It is not always an easy thing to do and requires serious reflection. Here are some suggested questions to spark dialogue:

• When was the last time I thought, “Why do I have to do every thing myself”?
• Why do I seem to be working so much and making so little?
• Describe the difference between working “in” my business and working “on” my business. Which is more important to me?
• Explain why business ownership is truly worth the time, effort, headaches, hassles, and sacrifices.
• Do I feel trapped on a treadmill, moving faster and faster, but going nowhere?
• How often do I face interruptions and repetitive questions from my staff?
• How often do I go home feeling mentally and physically drained?
• What is the difference between busyness and accomplishment?
• Do I dread the drudgery of facing and solving the same issues and problems each and every day – the burden of re-creating the wheel time and time again?
• When I daydream about regaining my sense of freedom, joy, passion, and peace-of-mind, what do I daydream about?
• Do I have anxiety about drowning in projects, problems, deadlines, crises, meetings, employee issues, unanswered voicemails/emails, customer complaints, administrative trivia, and on and on?
• Do I feel like a master juggler with too many balls up in the air and dreading they will soon begin hitting the floor?
• When was the last time I expressed being glued to a phone, computer, email, or pager?
• Am I tired of having customers rely on me personally for services, solutions and satisfaction?
• Am I fed up with missing family time, family events, and making other personal sacrifices on a semi-regular basis?
• What would I do if I had more free time to do the things that matter most to me?

Who do you talk with about these concerns?

Someone once said, "It's lonely at the top." Finding a confidante and an objective ear is no easy task. Trust is huge. Confidentiality is a concern. Letting down your guard long enough to be able to think clearly and develop effective solutions is not as easy as it sounds.

The fact that we remember that someone said, "It's lonely at the top" means that there are lots of business owners who know what that feels like. Why in the world should you as the owner have to touch every transaction, be involved with every decision, help solve every problem, or handle everybody’s job in some fashion? It does not make sense.

Consider how your stress is negatively impacting your employees, customers, vendors/suppliers, friends and if applicable, your spouse and kids. Maybe it is time to expand your view of new possibilities for managing your business and life. The better your business functions, the better your life will function.

Learn to enjoy the journey of developing and running a business and not defer your personal life and happiness until you retire or sell. Live life now! Do not get so caught up in making a living that you forget to make a life.

Learn more. Options are available. Check around by asking your colleagues or networking circles. Do a search on the internet (try googling "business coach, [your city]).

Business ownership can be deeply satisfying and rewarding.

Alan Furst
The Growth Coach
A.Furst@theGrowthCoach.com

Together we can make business better.