Update Friday - QLD - 8th July 2016
Four Strategies to Improve Your Business
"Time is the friend of the wonderful company, the enemy of the mediocre."
— Warren Buffett
1. Be Self-Critical
This one is particularly difficult to do honestly. If you're like most small business owners, you work hard... Really hard! Everyone has weaknesses. It's inevitable. Unless you recognise your issues, you won't be able to fix them!
Do you need more clients? Are your business systems antiquated? Do you pay too much for your raw materials? Whatever your problems - recognising them and admitting to them is a difficult, humbling step. Once you take that step, you're on your way to a better business as you figure out the solution!
2. Set Clear Goals
Where are you now? Where do you want to go?
Setting goals is important to getting yourself going. You probably achieve things every day, but without the active 'goal' in mind, you miss out on that 'rush' from accomplishing it!
Getting your goals right and knocking them over one at a time is very satisfying!
3. Professional Development
A good friend of mine is an accountant for Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) in the city. Whilst catching up with him over a few beers he was explaining all the "CPD" that he had to do as part of his role. Training, presenting, writing essays - a whole lot of work on top of his already significant workload! PwC is a huge company. There is a reason they invest so much in developing their people. It gets results!
This same simple principle applies to all businesses. Invest in yourself and your people. Continue to develop your knowledge and skills, any way you can!
4. Make Sure you Keep Smiling
Things don't always go your way. You can try and do everything right, and they can still fall over! It may sound silly but smiling can fix a lot of problems. Smiling makes you more attractive. More Approachable. Others around you will smile more, which can improve your own mood.
Make sure you remember why you're working so hard - enjoyment shouldn't just be for after hours only!