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As a small business owner, you know this feeling. There is never enough time to get it all done.
I know what it’s like. You’re juggling all the aspects of running your business. It’s a lot more than just opening the doors and selling products or services. You have to make it look inviting and dynamic, get your website out there, add a Facebook business page and then you need to actually run and manage your business. Maybe you have help that needs guidance and scheduling. Maybe you try to cover all the hours to keep your overhead down.
There are bills to pay and more phone calls from marketers trying to sell you stuff than from the potential clients you’d rather talk to.
But there are probably some things you don’t do. You don’t do your own electrical work, do you? Or repair your own car? Nope, some things are so complex you just have to make the call and trust they will fix it.
Most of us hate going to the doctor, but if you need surgery, well, there are limits to what you’ll try to undertake on yourself.
Is your business running you or are you running your business? Are you (with good intentions) trying to run the whole show...?
When I first went into business I didn’t do it for the right reasons. I did it because there weren’t any jobs in my field where I lived. I figured if there weren’t any opportunities, I’d have to make my own. Looking back on it, I was young and delusional. I had no clue what I was getting into.
I had little funding and no actual business management training. That meant no business plan or research on demand. I did have drive and determination. I dove in and within three months was grossing about $3000 a month. The year was 1982.
I survived and my business continued to grow, but it was tough and it came with a lot of mistakes and a price. A big personal price. I’ll bet you may be paying this price too.
Are you always trying to play catch up? The scheduling, hiring, training, all the overwhelming aspects of marketing and advertising, product selecting, ordering, client services… maybe even the cleaning? They say you should network… but that also takes time. Everything takes time.
It's my observation and experience that the difference between businesses that are going and growing and those that struggle is how good management is at delegating responsibility.
Do you see your team as employees, friends or partners? Or do you even have a team?
Having real partnerships can take you so much farther than you would have ever gone by yourself. And that makes everything so much more fun. This is just as true in life as it is in business.
So don’t go it alone.
Don’t think you have to do everything yourself.
Or worse of all, don’t think others have to do things ‘just the way you would’.
That’s a recipe for dysfunction. It hurts how people perceive you, your reputation. It affects your business atmosphere and negatively impacts the guest experience.
When you delegate… when you base your relationships with your team members on trust…it helps smooth out the bumps in the road of business. You have support for better work/life balance. You have someone to share with. Someone who understands your challenges.
And what are you going to do today to make sure they know you how much you value them.
If you're going it alone... think about your strengths and weaknesses. What tasks are draining you? Delegate them. Working alone or no one has the right expertise? Outsource. You may need to look outside to add those team members. In today’s world, there are thousands of small businesses out there with the expertise you need. Freelancers. They work when you need them and don’t charge you when you don’t.
Message me and let me know what you are doing to make your life easier and your business more profitable. I'd love to hear.
Judith Culp Pearson receives three top honors
at the annual Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals in
Ft. Worth, Texas - October 7-9, 2023
