Recently, I heard from a gentleman who feels as though his business is managing him instead of the other way around. He said that if he had to do it all again, he’s not sure if he would grow his business to the size it is now. Who is ‘in charge’ here?
Unfortunately, I don’t believe it’s him.
As business-owners, we’ve probably all felt that way periodically—who’s managing who? Our time is out of control. We’re constantly playing a balancing game between business and family and trying to wedge in a little time for relaxation and/or volunteer work. We just can’t do it all! But yet…we continue to try.
When we started our businesses, many (most?) of us were ‘all things to all people’: marketing, sales, delivery, accounting, public relations—whatever the business required—we were the one and only go-to person. (If you’re like me, you also vacuumed the office(s), and washed windows—not often, but when it happened, it was me with the Windex.)
The remedies for the challenge of who is managing what is certainly not the same for everyone; they are a function of the nature of your business, the family and social obligations you have, and financial considerations. There’s a whole litany that makes your situation unique. But there are a few solutions that appear to be common to all of us.
That one is…
Know when you need help and get it! There are aspects of your business that only you can manage. But does that mean everything or everything that you’re doing today? Not likely. There are qualified marketers, social media, accountants, and yes, cleaning people. Look objectively at how you spend your time. Is it on value-added tasks? Are you primarily focused on activities that contribute to your business growth and/or enhance the quality of your life? If the answer is “no”, and if those non-contributory actions are getting in the way of what only YOU can do—it’s time to get off the “too much, too often” roller coaster.
None of us can do it all—certainly not all the time. You have the right to say, “I need some help.” After all—you are in charge!
Joy is the Founder and CEO of Beyond Boardroom Doors™ (BBD), Joy Pecchia INT and creator of the Speed-to-Advancement™ (STA) Training System for executives, entrepreneurs and other business leaders.
Joy applied her experience as a corporate executive to build BBD as a successful, global leadership training, executive coaching and consulting firm. BBD provides business support to hundreds of executives, as well as other business leaders, worldwide. Her STA programs, including the STA Training System, provide valued coaching and laser-focused knowledge, skills and abilities (KSA) to leaders who choose to Aim High!
Joy is an experienced CEO, Board Certified Coach (BCC), International Speaker, Facilitator and Trainer. Joy was an Elite Coach with Robbins Research International, an Anthony Robbins Company for ten years, where she had the opportunity to impact the lives and businesses of hundreds of successful leaders across the globe.