'Tis the season, right? This is the time of year when, even though there is a great deal of hustle and bustle swirling around regarding the holiday season, we start planning and focusing on the next year. Last week I talked about the new year and, ready or not, it's going to be here before you know it. I discussed the option of outlining some SMART goals for your company that will allow you to accomplish big things next year. Today I want to talk to you about taking some time over the next two weeks to focus on the greatest asset your company has: YOU!
As a business owner I know that we usually spend our extra time working on our business. The free time you have is usually spent thinking about reallocating resources or doing the most with what you've got. I also know that when you have time you are clearly focused on the inner workings of the business and extra time isn't usually spent on frivolous pursuits. However, today I'm not talking about the things you do when you need to take your mind off of the business. I understand exactly what that's like.
When I want to "recharge my batteries" or get away from it all, mentally, I usually go after something that doesn't require a great deal of mental input. I watch stand-up comedy shows where I can simply laugh at mind-numbing thoughts. I watch documentaries on National Geographic that only make me think about the little creature that lives 5,000 feet under water and never sees the sunlight or other shows like that. This sort of "mindless" activity gives me time to relax my brain and really just recharge myself.
However, I challenge you to take a little time to focus on YOU over the holiday season. In his book, "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," Dr. Stephen Covey talked about "sharpening the saw" from time-to-time. Working on yourself or Sharpening the Saw is something that you can do easily, without a great deal of obvious effort because it is usually something that speaks to your passion about the business that you're in. Sharpening the Saw tells you to take time to make yourself better at the things that make you a better business owner.
If business is slow right now because everybody else is focused on the holiday season then take some time to reenergize your focus on improving your customer service skills or improving the follow-up activities you have for your current customers or your onboarding process for new customers, etc... Look at the tasks that you seem to put off and go after those now. It might be obvious why you seem to put those things off but the reward of accomplishing difficult tasks will do wonders for your sense of anticipation and starting a New Year off right. These types of improvements are easy to implement, once you start thinking about it, but will make a huge difference to your customers next year. The changes you do don't have to be monumental but their results certainly will be.
Over the years I've worked with many small business owners and the common trait of each of them is that they always put themselves last. Understandably they are working to make their customers feel important. They are working to help their employees feel valued and, finally, small business owners work very hard at providing security for their families. The one thing that most entrepreneurs fail at is investing in themselves! I hope you will agree with me that this has to change.
As a small business owner, you know that your business exists because you developed a passion for something and you brought it to market. You worked hard, late at night and on weekends, to make sure that the company was sound and strong. You brought the business from nothing to what it is today. YOU did that! Take some time to become a better business owner this season.
During the holiday, when you are recognizing your employees for their contributions to the success of the company and you are handing out bonus checks because they have done so much to help you grow don't forget to look in the mirror and thank the company's greatest asset.