|
Author: Mark Wardell Article source: http://boardoftrade.com/. Used with author's permission.
You're the first one there in the morning and the last to leave at night. You work 60 hours a week without complaining, but you wish your employees would put in half of the effort you do.
Your commitment to growing your business has produced results, yet finding the right employees, managing your finances and satisfying your growing list of customers, is beginning to become an almost unmanageable task. In fact, the more successful you become, the longer your to-do list seems to grow. Let's face it, if your sales doubled tomorrow, you'd be in trouble.
You can't remember the last time you took a vacation without worrying about your business the entire time. Maybe you can't remember the last time you took a vacation at all!
There has to be a better way!
If this describes your situation, you're at a critical juncture in the development of your business. We call this the "glass ceiling". It's the sticking point that all good businesses eventually run into. With your present structure you don't have much room to grow and any growth that you do achieve will come at your personal expense. Yet grow you must. It's an essential part of the business cycle.
There is a solution, and though it may be difficult to envision right now, your potential has never been greater. So take heart. You are sitting on the doorstep of a whole new level of business.
Taking your business to new heights does not require more and more work from you. It requires different work from you. Imagine building a skyscraper for a moment. The height it can be built is limited by the significance of the foundation it is built upon. In other words, the more substantial the foundation, the higher it can be built.
Your business works the same way. The potential growth of your business is limited by the foundation it is built upon. Right now, you are that foundation, so the growth of your business is limited by your ability to work hard and fast. If you want to increase your potential you need a more substantial foundation than any one person can provide.
The solution many business owners turn to is the addition of more people. It seems logical… more hands to share the work… but this approach is really a bit of an illusion. Think about your own company. What would happen to your business if one or more of your key people left? How quickly and easily could you recover? The problem with basing a business on people is that they can leave, and in so doing, take an essential part of your business with them. Of course people are vitally important, but the real solution is to build a strong and independent foundation based on systems, rather than people. Then, go out and find creative, motivated, intelligent people to run those systems.
Systems are really not a foreign concept. In fact, they are everywhere. Your body makes a good example. It has a respiratory system, a digestive system, a circulatory system, and so forth, all working interdependently to run your body. If you tried to consciously manage them all you wouldn't make it to the water cooler. And yet that's how most of us try to run our businesses. We run ourselves ragged trying to consciously manage the whole thing. But no matter how smart, fast, creative, or efficient you are, you can only get so far with this approach. You might get farther than some, but eventually, you'll run into that glass ceiling. It's inevitable.
In early 2000, a manufacturing company came to us looking for help. The owner had been trying to run his business his way for the previous 10 years. Sales were stagnant at around $300,000, money was tight, and his family was frustrated at never seeing him. Over the next couple of years, we helped him implement systems to track and control his sales, manage his employees, control his finances, and streamline his production processes. Last year his revenues passed $1.2 million (and climbing), but more importantly, he now has control over his business and his life. This is the power of a business foundation based upon solid systems.
The job description of the CEO-business owner, should read "strategic leader".
The funny thing is, even though most business owners would agree with this, they simply can't find the time to get around to that type of work. It's too low on the priority list. But if your goal is to take your business to the next level, you need to take the burden of daily management off of your shoulders, and place it squarely on the business itself. Done correctly, this is the key to success and freedom. Mark Wardell is President and Founder of Wardell Professional Development, a business consulting firm, focused on the unique needs of small/mid sized growth companies.
mailto:info@wardell.biz
http://www.wardell.biz
Context-Free Living ... Living Without Boundaries!
Simplify your belief systems! Drop the excess baggage that weighs you down and blurs your vision! Gain access a vast amount of information and resources that yo...
Firewalls: What They Are And Why You MUST Have One!
Firewalls are usually your first line of defense against malicious
attacks from spyware, adware, malware, worms, trojans, and hackers.
Find out what they are an...
Hormones and Adult Acne
Are you experiencing problems with hormones and adult acne? Hormones and adult acne can be an annoyance but there are things you can do to alleviate the situat...
Should You Really Give A Sheet About Debt Reduction Worksheets?
Debt reduction forms come from various sources, including BBB-recognized debt reduction counseling firms to advise you on debt with worksheets provided to base ...
Ten Ways to Get Cheap (and Free) Magazine Samples
Writers' research into magazines is essential when building a magazine writing career. This article offers ten creative ways to cut your cost of magazine resear...
Cash Loans: The Good, the Bad, and the Debt-Free
Happiness is what they're selling. Relief from the crushing weight of that gigantic rock we're all forced to carry called 'financial burden.' It's heavy and c...
Basic Options Terms
Options are good investing and speculative instruments. But options terminology may confuse even experienced investors. In this article we will take up some bas...
Countering the Spread of Spyware on your Computer
Companies are taking initiative for reducing spyware, as is the government.
L-tyrosine and Your Health
L-tyrosine is a protein that the body produces from phenylamine, thus making it a non-essential amino acid. L-tyrosine is available from natural foo sources inc...
Lasers - A Modern Cosmetic Treatment For Acne Blemishes
The best way to protect your skin from acne-related scarring is to take preventative measures early on. But it is often true that people who suffer from acne ...
Zyprexa Lawsuits
Eli Lilly & Company, the maker of the Zyprexa drug has set aside $690 million to pay patients who took Zyprexa before September 2003 and suffered damages.
Homeowner Loans – Drawing Lessons of the Past
Getting loans is easier for homeowners. However with the home at stake they need to tread with care. One wrong decision and they lose their home to the lender. ...
Here to Stay - Cyber Casinos and Their Benefits
In a cyber casino, one can observe and play the games in virtual reality with no-one being able to detect what you really look like, the same applies for such o...
10 Ways to Maintain Your Healthy Weight
Two words - vacations and holidays - set off alarm bells if you're trying to maintain a healthy weight. You're not going to give vacations and holidays, so wha...
What Has Worked For Us (Brief Reflections On Enjoying 36 Years Of Marriage)
We are not perfect, we don't agree on all things, and we
still work through issues even after being married for
nearly thirty-six years.
Taking Professional Quality Pictures
By now I'm sure you've used Either a digital or film camera. You've taken pictures and had them developed and just weren't satisfied with the Quality. You don't...
Count Rumford
Spies are more important to the real World Order than many Presidents according to FDR...
Spring Makeovers: Organizing Tips for the Home and a Virtual Makeover for You
A new season, a new you! Do you and your home need a makeover?This article will provide tips for clearing clutter and rejuvenating for Spring!
What to Look for When Buying a Closet Organizer
Whether it's a New Year's Resolution or spring cleaning, no cleaning spree would be complete without cleaning the closets. This time, don't just rearrange the j...
Get Personal With Google
Anyone who's been on the net any time at all knows that Google has been the search engine of choice for many for a while now. Whether that continues remains to ...
Modelling Your Way to Success
The fastest way to succeeding in anything, be it online or other areas of your life, is to MODEL those that are already achieving success in what they do.
Wedding Anniversary Scrapbooking Ideas
Looking for wedding anniversary scrapbooking ideas to help you create a unique gift for a special couple?
Boston Market; Mobile Auto Detailing
Boston itself covers 50 square miles of concrete and traffic, well city limits actually exactly 46 square miles, the entire metro area can be and is often over ...
Grilling Vs. Barbecue
What exactly is the difference between Grilling and Barbecueing?
|
Print this page