Why Bigger Isn't Good Enough

"The only way to predict the future is to create it."

 -Peter Drucker

 

Over the past few weeks, I have had some interesting conversations with clients about the perks of success.

One told me, only half-jokingly, he felt guilty when the monthly personal income from his business started to push past $6,000 a month. Another told me that she felt guilty she wanted a really nice car (and then went out and bought one).

The first client's business does about 4 million in annual revenues and employs about 30 people. The second does just under 1 million and employs about 35 people. Both owners work 70 - 80 hour weeks, and have gone through periods of staggering stress. Like most of my clients.

So should they feel guilty?  

My response to the first client sums up my take on the real issue at hand:

"The personal income is only a part of the hesitation. The bigger part is simply conceiving of what a 'big' or 'successful' business looks like so you can shoot for it. Most people don't grow because they are afraid of growing. They refuse to consider it in realistic terms. So they stay stuck for years."

Let's get over that.

The first pre-condition for being successful in a small business is not customers or employees or anything else. It is your imagination. If you can't wrap your head around what 'big' could look like, it is highly unlikely you are going to get there.

Here is what big is really all about.

Measuring what matters. We have enough stuff. The money and the cars and the holidays are nice, but they are not why we work so hard to grow.

What matters most is your ROI: the return on the investment of your life. As time goes by you should be having more fun, not less; spending more time with friends and family, not less; pursuing your passions i.e. doing things that you love to do, that add the most value, your core purpose, your WHY, not doing the day to day firefighting. You should be leading, not having to manage everything.

You can't get "BIG" until you come to grips with the fact you can't get bigger without building a Team that is accountable for results and one that you trust to do the right things, right.

Where are you at in this continuum?

Does the business still rely on you to work or does the business work for you? Do you have a job or do you own a business that has some real value?

My coach Steve Chandler says "Every result (bad or good) in our life and/or your business is created by a system that is perfect for creating that result. If you want to change the result you have to change the system."

 
What systems do you need to change?