Step 2 of Building a Better Business

It’s amazing what we, as humans, don’t even know that we don’t know. Being open to change and new learning is a crucial step to building a better business.

New learning opportunities are everywhere, and in this digital world, there’s simply no excuse to avoid new learning.

Consider how many new things a five-year-old learns each day. Children enthusiastically embrace the world of possibility and the desire to learn. Why is it that, the older we get, the more likely we are to close our minds to new learning?

We’re all busy, and sometimes we feel like we just don’t have the time to sit down and read a book. We need to make the time. Set yourself targets and share these with someone who will hold you accountable to achieving these.

Here are five ways to learn more, positioning yourself to run a better business:

1. Read more.
Turn off your technology half an hour earlier each night and spend that time reading. Mix it up with recreational books and business books. As a bonus, it will help you sleep better!

2. Resist the urge to hang out on your phone.
Unless you’re learning something new. By the way, you’re unlikely to learn on Facebook! Try an eBook, audio book, podcast, or learning app instead!

3. Enrol in courses or workshops.
These can be online or in person. Choose topics that interest you and will help you in your business.

4. Turn off your TV.
Unless you’re viewing TED talks on YouTube or content that is useful learning.

5. Keep a journal of your learnings.
Review your journal of learnings regularly. Remember, you don’t really know something until you can teach it to someone else.

So, in what areas would you benefit from extending your knowledge? It could be leadership, management, sales, or writing skills. Find out the best ways to develop your knowledge and set aside time to learn. Don’t forget to ask someone to hold you accountable. Maybe you could buddy up with someone and meet regularly to share your learnings with each other? Once you begin learning, your hunger to learn will grow.

We can help you take steps to improve your business and ensure it reaches its true potential. Get in touch!

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” - Mahatma Ghandi

Step 1 of Building a Better Business

What does a better business look like to you? Before you can start building a better business, you need to define success. Be crystal clear on exactly what you want from your business. Remember, your business is there to serve you, not the other way around.

Life is simply too short to be stuck doing things we don’t enjoy. The average person spends 40,000 hours at work over their lifetime. Make the most of this time and do what you love doing.

To build a compelling vision of where you want to be in the next 12 months, consider the following questions, and write down your answers.

1. Who do you need to be right now?
Instead of having a mindset of ‘when I have this, I will do that, and I will be this’, think about who you need to be right now. By focusing on who you need to be, you’ll start acting in a way that’s consistent with that person - doing what you need to do to get what you want to have.

2. What do you love doing outside of work and at work?
Define the things that you love doing most. We all have tasks we don’t enjoy doing and likely put off for as long as possible. Determine which of these can be delegated so you can stop doing them.

3. How many hours will you commit to the things you love doing?
Write down how many hours a week you’ll spend doing what you love. Commit to doing this - tell someone so they can hold you accountable. Setting aside time to do things you love doing is a great way to start taking back control of your life.

4. What holidays do you want to have?
Write down where you want to go and when. Be specific so the image is implanted in your mind. Book the holiday now or block out the time in your calendar.

5. How much income do you need to deliver on this new life?
Write down a figure. Don’t worry about how you’ll achieve this right now, just write it down.

You now have your own personal plan for what you want to get out of your business. Make this visible and start working towards it now.

“The first secret of getting what you want is knowing what you want.” - Arthur D. Hlavaty

Building a Better Business in 10 Steps

You’re in business, congratulations, that takes courage and commitment.

It’s not easy, and at times you might find yourself questioning why you’re even doing it, but you’re here because you had a vision. You decided being in business was a better way to achieve that vision than working for someone else. And, you’re right; you just have to work on it. Good things come to people who hustle.

You’re likely an expert in what you do… maybe you’re a mechanic and know the inside of a car engine like the back of your hand. Or, maybe you’re a fashion retailer who can style anyone. This doesn’t mean you’re an expert at running your business though. It’s hard taking time out of working in your business to work on it. But doing this is essential for its success.

There’s no magical overnight solution to building a more successful business. It’s about taking small steps every day to get a bit better than the day before.

So, what should you do to build yourself a more successful business? We’ve broken it down into 10 essential steps:

1. Get clear on exactly what it is that you want.

2. Be open to change and new learning.

3. Define where you are now (warts and all).

4. Make a plan.

5. Get your organisational structure right.

6. Be a better leader.

7. Be held accountable by someone independent.

8. Build strong networks.

9. Monitor your progress.

10. Keep your well of happiness full.

These are the 10 most important things you should be working on to ensure you achieve your goals. Small, incremental changes can have a massive effect on your success.

We’re here to help you, every step along the way. Get in touch!

“Success isn’t overnight. It’s when every day you get a little better than the day before. It all adds up.” - Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson