When you’re running a business, you need to think like a business owner. Yes, here I am stating the obvious again. But it’s easy to start thinking too personally, or take things to heart, or get over-excited when your business is experiencing a peak or trough. Business is always business.
Of course, I am not suggesting you don’t get involved, and that you are connected to your business–the whole point about making your business about what you do that’s brilliant (i.e. your Thing) is bringing more of you into your business. BUT you must remember at the same time that you are running a business.
Here are some things to think about and make sure your Thing is happening in a business-like way for best results:
- Prices for your Thing reflect value and aren’t swayed by your own worries, considered competition or ego (i.e. they aren’t too low or too high, but ideal for your business)
- You make a profit, and you consider this in all calculations. Even if you feel called to serve a certain market, don’t make a loss–instead, find a way to work with them that makes you money too
- Hire on attitude and skills, not emotions (note: I still hire people I ‘like’ as, of course, I have to work with them BUT I don’t overlook shortcomings just because they are lovely people)
- Pay for results–this goes for anyone you hire for your team, as a coach or mentor, suppliers. Anyone who is adding value to your business and it’s results, make sure they do add value
- Fill the gaps that aren’t your Thing–outsource, hire, buy in, do what you need to so that, where possible, you spend as much of your time as you can on doing your Thing and not ‘admin’ and other tasks in the business
- Get allies–get together with other business owners to see how you can support each other. Don’t always believe that competition is a bad thing–sometimes collaboration can bring better results for everyone. Work with partners and affiliate to increase your reach. Don’t try and do your business on your own.
We can all get overly involved in our business as, after all, it’s our creation and often our ‘art’. When you’re doing your Thing as a business especially, it’s hard to not make everything personal–but some things are very much best left to ‘business’. Get personal with your values and branding, share personal stories if they support sales, and very much share your way of doing things (Things). But don’t take every "No", every piece of feedback, personally–it’s just the market doing its thing. Think like a business owner when it comes to business and you’ll be paid well for your Thing and not worry about what’s not working and move on to something that does.
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