This is a bit of a spontaneous post. On Tuesdays, I have calls with two of my mentoring clients, and today I had an extra call scheduled in. I’ve also got a whole load of clients who are busily, earnestly preparing for Christmas.
So it’s been a day of insight into the challenges and common concerns of small business ownership.
And I just really need to say: no-one really knows.
If you’re worrying that everyone else has it all together, please just let that go right now. Because while someone might be better at organising their stock than you, they’ll find creating new products (or keeping up with orders or adapting to new things) way harder.
And if you’re having a day that means you really just wish you had a business partner or a boss or someone else to take responsibility – even just for a day – you’re not alone.
This is crunch time, this September time. There are loads of decisions and deadlines to make. Cash flow is all tied up in a billion things. Things seem risky and exciting and you don’t always know what to do.
If you need a bit of clarity on your to-do list, ask yourself:
- Does it have a definite deadline? If so, stick to it. If not, reconsider.
- Will it make a difference to your business today, next month, or by the end of the year? If it’s going to radically improve your sales/income, efficiency or brand perception, move it closer to the top of the list.
- Is it something you really, really want to do? If it isn’t going to get you out of bed in the morning, it goes down the list. And make sure you’re really imagining the reality of making whatever it is happen – unglamorous boring bits and all.
Normal service will resume on Friday!
Jx
