In many ways, a business is a lot like a relationship.
There’s the fun, exciting period at the beginning, where anything is possible and nothing can rain on your new relationship parade. You can’t help but to think about it all the time! You can’t eat, you can’t sleep, and you’re walking around with a huge smile on your face and an optimism that cannot falter.
The Honeymoon Stage.
You didn’t think it was possible, but things seem to have gotten even better! The future is bright. In business, this is the stage where everything starts to come together, you might even be seeing some exciting initial results. It’s an exciting time! Your mind spins with the endless possibilities and the vision of your life once this thing really hits the big time! In this stage, it is easy to overlook potential issues, both in a romantic relationship and a new business. But this is the most critical time to address those red flags, so they don’t pose a bigger issue to you down the track.
- Ensure you have proper process and systems in place as early as possible.
- Create your game plan. In business and relationships, having a strategy for dealing with potential future issues is the key to longevity and success.
The Hard Times
Very few relationships are without hard times. The same is true in Business. The biggest disease within your business is conflict – if given the time to spread, it can infect your entire staff. The best way to manage conflict is to stop it before it has a chance to start, by implementing proper systems, and ensuring all your employees are clear on their roles within the business. If there is still conflict, immediately take the time to hear the issue and deal with it right away, without letting it fester.
Maintaining The Relationship
It is extremely hard during the rough patches to muster the same energy and enthusiasm you once felt for your business. Even if there are no glaring issues, it is easy to fall into the same routine of clock-watching and problem-solving, all day every day. So, how do you recapture that love and motivation to make your business the best it could possibly be?
- Take the time to work ON your business, not IN it. Even setting aside 25 minutes of your day to improving your business is better than nothing. Use that time to learn something new that could benefit your business.
- Find someone to talk to. Couples have marriage therapy, businesses have business advisers. Talk to someone who knows exactly what you’re dealing with, and work with them to create a solution for your business. It might just be the best decision you ever make for your business.
It’s Valentines Day – the time for showing love to those around you. Why not also take the opportunity to show your business a little love too?
