Achieving the balance in business
Today we welcome back Malcolm Owens to Small Business Owner… 
Working in small business can lead to feeling apart from the wider world. Time and achievement demands weigh heavily. Always frantic, balancing current workloads with the flow of new business, time at work and home. Never relaxing, always busy, trying to get ahead. A constant feeling of getting sucked into the doom loop.
Achieving is a philosophy for life. It’s a way of living that leads to remarkable results on all levels. To do that we must be very clear on what we want and free the time and mental space to achieve it. Here are 5 steps to help you:
1. Living with change
Serious achievers embrace change. They’ve learned to get comfortable with the unknown. To lead your field, to lead in life, you must be at the edge. Having the edge means finding the courage to take a risk and have a go. Uncertainty is big opportunity for those that lean into the ride.
2. Taking the time
In the business or on the business? Reality dictates both but most only manage the first. Find the space for creative thought. Break through your own busyness or remain as a hamster on the wheel. Have the courage to try something different. No, it’s not easy but the truly important things rarely are.
3. Plan to succeed
Set yourself goals and write them down. Commit and measure yourself weekly. Short and long term. What can you do today to make a difference? Successful companies are so because they set targets and go after them. They measure their results and take action. Too small to do that? Think again.
4. Take responsibility for your results
No blame. No excuses. No way. If things aren’t going to plan ask ‘what am I going to do about it?’ And do it.
5. Action
Quite simply the most important ingredient for success. Set aside 30 minutes a day to look at the big picture, the view from the bridge. What do you see from up there, forest or trees? Look at other industries, what do they do well? Find something to apply to your business and stand apart from your competitors. Small things can make a big difference.
Do you have the courage to make a difference? What are you prepared to do today to make it happen?
Malcolm Owens
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Well, I was planning on doing nothing today. Maybe a soy latte and a lie down. (Actually, I’m on holiday, so this isn’t so strange.) But now I’m not so sure.
This is a clear and helpful call to action Malcolm, and a philosophy evidenced by your own achievements.
I think my courage is tempered by an awareness that, if on the edge, sometimes one falls off. Indeed, I have fallen off at times. Finding balance is not just a twee sentiment then, but an imperative.
Maybe your soy latte is half full and mine is half empty.
Stupid soy lattes.
Great post and thought starter though …
Hi Malcolm
I love Step 1 – Living with Change. I regularly change what I’m doing, based on both what my clients need and want, and way that I think I can increase revenue!
Nice post
Mel
Hey Malcolm,
a great read to start the day.
Particularly liek Step 4 – taking Responsbility, all too often we like to blame others and shirk what we need to do.
Well done
Marie
Thanks Adam,
It’s easy to ‘fall off’ the edge and occasionally it is beneficial to do so, as long as the fall is not too far!
Change takes courage but also provides the growth that makes life worthwhile. The key is to have a foundation set in stone and then to makes changes to 10% of what you do.
10% is a level that provides an excellent upside if it works and not a devastating downside if it doesn’t. Small steps over time build to a significantly better business and life. Always looking for the 10% can inspire and motivate your staff and keep the business sharp.
Start with the low risk changes. I always recommend looking for a 5% saving in cost and a 5% increase in sales. Most businesses can do this without much difficulty. This is often eliminating some waste, improving your systems and making a few more sales calls. The result is this goes straight to the bottom line.
It becomes a habit and then you start to look for it in everything you do. I challenge anyone to tell me that they can’t make at least a 10% improvement in their business in the next 60 days. I would love to hear about your experiences of making it happen.
Thanks Mel,
You make an excellent point. Many business people are afraid to change the way they do things in case it ‘upsets’ their customers.
In fact most customers or clients will be very happy to grow with you and take up additional services that you develop over time.
Once a client is happy with you they will be excited about what else you can do for them to help them in their business or life. The first place to start is to ask them! Not only will they be flattered by you asking their opinion but that may have one idea that can add significantly to your business.
Hi Marie,
Taking responsibility is the key to success. We all make mistakes and if we are big enough to admit it and make the changes then we grow and prosper. I have found that ’stuffing up’ is an excellent teacher especially when it costs you money!
Holy fence-jumpers Batman!
How did they talk you into that Malcolm? Don’t tell me! Paul got you a bonnet-scoop for your Learjet?
Hmmm! This all sounds somehow familiar…Oooh! I know! I remember reading some great stuff like this in a totally kick-ass little eBook called – 100 Quickest and Easiest Ways To Grow Your Business. I think some hippie wrote it…but it’s definitely worth a read ;-P
To answer your questions:
“Do you have the courage to make a difference?” – Well some would say that I have…and I reckon I’ve made a difference…just not the difference I planned to make…Never give up, Never surrender!
“What are you prepared to do today to make it happen?” Anything but take responsibility! Have you had a look at this planet? Have you seen what they do to people that take responsibility? Sometimes I think everyone is just waiting around for some idiot to take responsibility so that they can all blame him/her, take all their stuff of them and crucify them…ooh! Is that deja-vu?
I would wager that if enough people actually took responsibility it would change the world in all the ‘right’ ways. Currently I reckon our planet and our business practices are extreme examples of extreme irresponsibility, buck-passing, denial and irresponsibility. And I have not yet met anyone that actually knows how to do it…properly, honestly and completely…well no-one that’s still alive anyway…
Great post Cobba…
Cheers
Stephen G
Hi Stephen,
I was hoping you would stop by and as usual you didn’t disappoint! Paul promised to actually give me back the negatives this time!
One of my biggest frustrations is people’s reluctance to take responsibility. Happy to do it when things go well but when they don’t it’s ‘the economy, the market, the other guy or no one told me what to do.’ I wish that some people would put the same creativity into their actions as they do to their excuses.
As Mahatma Gandhi said ‘Be the change you want to see in the world’, if not the planet start with yourself and those closest to you because every bit helps. Even a positive word or taking the time to really listen to someone can really improve their day.
I always try to leave people better than I found them. Never underestimate your influence on the flow of life.
Amen to that ol’ Bean
What’s that ol’ saying?…’Truth is a flexible perception of need’?
But then, what can be expected of us when we our ‘Spirit Guides’ come down here (usually borrowing someone else’s body), telling us that “all is well”, that they come on “our terms”, and claim that ‘THEY’ sent us a blessing when we have a win, and when the pooh hits the fan it’s ‘My’ issue, or ‘My’ ego or some such and that ‘I’ need to get ‘My’ pooh together, and then they conveniently bugger-off back to the Ethers.
Have you ever noticed in Star Wars how Obe Wun Knobe only turns-up when Luke is nearly dead and then says something helpful like, ‘You need to find the strength’ or ’search your own bluddy feelings’?!!!
They even profess such ‘tools’ as ‘Intent and Outcome’ – where Intent is what we think we want, and the Outcome is what we really wanted. Apparently, with the planet going down the gurgler at a rate of ‘nots’, this doesn’t apply to ‘them’? Funny about that…kinda reminds me of our Law and Policy makers ey? Which brings us inexorably to that other good ol’ saying – ‘As above, so below’. Well what bluddy chance does that give us then? What’s the deal? Down here we’ve got Climate Change and they’ve got ‘Ether Change’? Doesn’t leave many options does it? It’s like trying to decide where to go on Holidays and your choices are Afghanistan and Afghanistan…
Come to good ol’ Earth. Get your ‘Will’, Free! You can be happy, or be miserable, it’s your choice…you’re all gunna die anyway!
Ooh! I can feel a rant coming on…Suffice it to say that I’m with you 150% on that bugger mate.
Always a pleasure mate
Cheers
Stephen G
Wow, you are a deep man Stephen.
Perhaps we need face the reality and ask them to ‘beam us up Scotty’
That will come in due course but for now we’re content to advance confidently in the direction of our dreams, to endeavor to live the life we have imagined and meet with a success unexpected in common hours.
I like your 10% rule very much Malcolm. Kind of like being your own manager. I will apply it today, starting with trying to understand 10% more of what Stephen G says.
Something about Wookies I believe!
I just had a chocolate chip wookie with my soy latte! Now I understand …
Hi Guys,
What? Deep in the pooh?
Soy latte vie?
May the Chocolate Chip Wookie be with yaz!
Stephen G
Malcolm – great post!
Thank you for your fabulous contribution.
It’s about stepping out of the daily chaos and looking at the bigger picture and with small business owners wearing so many ‘hats’ and being so busy, sometimes this gets left behind on the to-do list. Hopefully this post inspires some to step out of the loop, even if it’s just for a moment.
Thanks Naomi,
It was my pleasure to contribute and you have it spot on. I have now put a collection of posts together in my blog which can be found at:
http://worklifebankbalance.wordpress.com/
Feel free to stop by and also for everyone to continue to enjoy the Small Business Owner Blog, a fantastic learning environment and great fun. I never miss a post!