You're the leader.  Your business won't get better until you do.

TV makes you dumber, not smarter.  Shut it off.  You don't need it. 

What amazing things can you do (with who) with all those "found" hours?

"But I run it, so it can't be!" you say.  Okay fine. 

Should we take a look?  What results are you getting? 

Is it everything you ever dreamed it would be?

So why do you keep doing it that way?

Do you say you believe in freedom and then think, speak or act to limit it?

If you believe in liberty, you allow others to express their differences, so you may continue to express yours.

Liberty is an American invention that is easy to carry out - when everyone is just like you.

Surely you know how much you have budgeted to spend on advertising and lead generation activites this month.  How much?  Are you spending it?  How?

And what results are you looking for?  Cost per lead, cost per job, cost per new customer, or some other KPI (Key Performance Indicator) for your business.

Are you marketing to sprout the roots of new business growth?

No sense straightening out a picture on the wall in a house that's falling down.

What's more important - the picture, or the house?

Let your point of view rise, and let go what's less important (for now) in favor of what's most important.

When your staff comes to you with time-sucking tasks and details, you could say "why are you coming to me with that!  You are killing me!"  Not a good way to empower them.

Or you could say (in a gracious tone) "You are very smart.  I think you can make that decision without me.  Don't you?"  OR  "What would you do?...I trust you to make these kinds of decisions".  OR  "You are smart and experienced.  From now on, you are in charge of that.  You don't need to check with me.  I know you will make great decisions."

Free yourself to work ON your business.

Crowds never take responsibility.  Is any one raindrop responsible for the flood?

But you have to ignore the crowd and ask - is it right?

Is it?

As a business owner, you must set goals and follow an agenda to accomplish them.  You must not allow your staff to delegate to you.  If they are doing so, it's because you set it up that way.

"Can you look at this?", "Can you review that?", "We need you to follow up on.."

All this takes your time away from "Doing the RIGHT things". 

Are you in control?

All the other plans, dreams, and things you can think of take guts.

Guts to hug someone.  Guts to follow your dream.  Guts to speak up.  Guts to say they are wrong - even if there are a lot of them.  Guts to do it even if you don't feel like it.

You got guts?