Hi fellow parent! I’m Ben… a business owner, employer, husband, and father to three kids under ten. You can find me helping businesses to grow, trying to keep the house tidy, ferrying kids to school, operating a taxi service to football, attempting a social life, or out for a walk in the hills!
Running your own business should be liberating. But maybe you're feeling like it's draining your energy and the business is running your life, not the other way around?
It doesn’t have to be like that. Your business should give you freedom to live the life that you want to live. I wanted to share some quick tips to help you succeed!
1. Have a plan – We all know that a business needs a business plan, right? But, most business owners I start working with don’t have one. A good business plan helps you imagine the business you want to build and formulate a roadmap for how you’ll do it. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been going for years, find the time to write a plan.
2. Be targeted – One of the biggest mistakes people make is to think ‘by maximising all of the types of customers I can sell to, I will maximise my chances of success’. This road leads to confusion and requires the skills of a Cirque de Sole juggler. Finding your niche will help you focus your product, your brand and your marketing activities…and focus will bring you success.
3. Do something for yourself - However busy you are, if you don’t make some time for yourself in your week you will eventually burn out. Many of us learn this the hard way. Prioritise some time for you – I don’t have a regular thing that’s my go-to, but each week I’ll make time to run, read, maybe see a film, or do some yoga.
4. Talk to someone - Taking the time to regularly step back from the business, reflect, prioritise and move forward is really important. Don’t waste your time on the wrong things. Find someone you can talk to, someone who can help hold you to account on the progress you said you will make, and someone who can help you solve problems along the way.
I’m always happy to have a coffee to help you work on your business and step away from running around in your business.