10% away…

Many businesses aren’t making much (any) money but have 15 employees or so.  They are a few paychecks away from making an acceptable profit.

The marketing and sales need to be tweaked to work a little better, and the production and expenses need to be tweaked so they are a little more efficient.

Tweak away… 

Playing it safe

“Let’s not do or try anything that’s not proven”.  You’ll be going up against the competition with the same tools they have – destined to compete on price where there are few winners.

There are those that will point to your failures, but innovating is the only way to get a competitive advantage.

As long as there are others who want the same business you have, there is no “safe” in business.

Awe

Observe things that are beyond you.  Things far greater than your achievements – and hold them in wonder.  Stretch your awareness of what’s possible.

It’s good for a businessperson.

One shot here

You have one crack at life and you don’t want to go down as “normal”.

I get that.

Voluntary Slavery

“A slave to your business”?  Maybe some of us.  But more likely it’s voluntary slavery.  We are willing to go through all this in exchange for what we will accomplish, express, develop, feel, and have available if we succeed.

A high price indeed.  But one we’re willing to pay to get that chance – no matter what it takes.

Fire every weapon

If you’re a salesperson and you’re in a battle, you don’t declare a loss and retreat with loaded weapons in your bag.  You have nothing to lose.

Fire every weapon!

Imagine what your competitors are doing

What are you going to do?

Make your partners successful

Your employees, customers, partners, and suppliers – if they succeed when working with you, then you will succeed.  Sure there’s people who look for a free ride and won’t do the work – some people need to go to another team.  But they are the minority. There’s a place for the talents and desires of most who are already on your team.  

Make it work for them and they make it work for you.

Distinctions

It’s that one thing that’s obvious to you now, that everyone else missed, that will make all the difference if you could excel there. Or that one thing that everyone talks about, and has been talking about forever, that nobody has cracked; but if you could get it right…

Why will your business be so much better in the near future?  Make the distinctions, and execute on them.

Your schedule is stealing your attention

A business owner has so much to do each day – with a distraction a minute.  It’s stacking the deck against you being able to actually fix anything or work on meaningful projects.  

When you’re not in control of your attention and time, you can’t use your creativity to do any legacy projects.

Fix that.