Ask a small business owner, “how are things going” and you’ll likely hear “okay”. This means things aren’t going as planned. Occasionally, the atypical case exists when “things” are planned and events trigger a change to plans made. However, if things aren’t going as planned, it’s because many small business owners haven’t taken the time to plan.
The truth is that most small business owners don’t like working in the business they created. One of my clients aptly refers to it as “the business model we hate”. Sound familiar? There’s hope, however. There’s still time to flip your business.
If you’ve noticed less interaction on your Facebook business page recently, you’re not imagining it. Last month Facebook tweaked its algorithm, drastically reducing visibility for businesses — unless you choose to pay for boosted posts, or ads.
Recently, I wrote about the things I learned from my Mom that make me a better small business entrepreneur. Although I seldom post business information on my personal Facebook page, I felt this was appropriate to share. Hence, my sister, Denice, began thinking of all that Dad taught us through running his small business. Now, in her own words, is Denice’s contribution to our blog, Bite-Size Chunks of Wisdom:
Growing up on my Grandma’s farm, I was accustomed to silos. The towers were used to store grain through the harsh winters of North Dakota. In business, “silo” is a term used to describe “a system, process, department, etc. that operates in isolation from others”. For the small business owner, it’s working alone. As early as age 6, I understood the hazards of silos.
You start each week with the best of intention. You promise your family — and yourself — to leave the office “at a reasonable hour” each day. You vow not to let work flood your weekend. It’s hard to cut back — even when you know its what you need to do. Finding work-life balance isn’t easy. What you really need to do is to find your work-life groove.
“Clean your plate! There are starving children in Biafra!” my mother barked as my sister and I stared at our partially finished meal. Although I didn’t know where Biafra was located — or how clearing my plate would help their hungry children — I reluctantly obeyed. Little did I realize, my mom was my first small business coach.
You run a small business from your home. Your commute is short and simple — turn left at the coffee maker, bypass small children and big dogs, and veer to your right where your office kitty is warming your chair. Your dress code? Office pajamas.