Stress, long hours, thankless work, more responsibility and less money – who would actually sign up for that?
When I start working with a client, one of the first things I ask them is, ‘So, why did you go into business in the first place?”
The lists are usually pretty similar, and read as follows:
- The freedom and choice of being their own boss
- Greater flexibility
- More money
- To make a real difference
See any discrepancies?
Why is the reality of owning a business often so different to the dream we have in the beginning? Why do we then allow that reality to continue and become our new normal? Why do we allow our business to consume us?
We all know the stats around business failure. If not, here’s one:
The vast majority of businesses fail before their fifth anniversary.
When you consider the above questions, it’s not hard to see why.
The fact is, your business can be exactly what you dreamed it would be, but only if you do the work to design it that way. Like anything in life, if you fail to plan – you plan to fail. Anything left to find its own path is by definition uncontrollable – your business is no different.
If you want flexibility, then you must design your business to allow flexibility.
Want to make more money? Then design your business to be as profitable as it can be.
Want to make a difference in your local community? Design your business to allow you to make that difference – whatever that might mean to you.
All these reasons are why I am so passionate about starting your journey with PTP with what you want to achieve in your life, and then designing your business to fit those goals.
Far too many people design their lives to fit their business and find themselves consumed by it as a result. We see the consequences of this all the time and we are passionate about giving business owners the tools they need to design their dream lives.
In conclusion, I leave you with two thoughts:
If you find yourself in business and experiencing exactly the opposite of what you dreamed it would be – STOP! Put your hand up and ask for help. Burying your head in the sand and assuming that ignoring it and working harder will make it go away is not a good strategy for success.
Secondly, if you are planning to go into business – you must start with what is important to you and your loved ones and design the business that fits that.
Business can be everything that you want it to be, but only if you take the initiative and build it that way.
