In this document I'll show you how, even with a written business plan, unfortunately, too many owners are stuck in their company and are missing the enjoyment they really seek. I'm also going to show how leaders could remodel their work and way of living with a particular tool and an approach to business planning which makes the world of difference. You can find the full story in a book that's selling on Amazon at 12.99, or you can instantly easily get hold of a free download version at this link: The Strategic Imperative.
I'm Chris Gardener and I've studied and practised life as a business owner for all my professional life. I've supported innumerable business owners to improve performance. I've been involved with businesses from the initial phases, right to large scale operation. My experience as Finance head, CEO and Strategic Mentor means I've seen what does work and what doesn't. I've worked round the difficulties that countless business directors get stuck in. Sadly, I've seen many founders develop a lifestyle but not freedom.
Many people start companies believing they'll achieve freedom. They say they want more happiness with their families. They desire to to choose how and when to work. But it is common for many entrepreneurs to create a successful business, but be it. No freedom. Not enough time with their nearest and dearest. Not on top of it. They're "surviving" instead of "living". But the business plan wasn't meant to have the business like this! The excitement and passion they showed at first have been relentlessly diminished like water wears down rocks. There's frustration, tension and always something to be doing because of work.
So, why is this commonplace? There are many reasons. Usually it's normal that the founder believes they need to do all that matters themselves. They find it too time consuming to delegate. They believe that great client service will only be delivered right by "me", personally. They think that no-one else could be able to operate as well as they can, and that it's inevitable that it'll be too time consuming to teach others. The issue is, behaving in this way can get reasonable personal financial success. So, any change to that jeopardises that comfort. And yet carrying on like this is commonly what maintains the business feeling like a treadmill, not moving forward and not a fulfilling place to be.
So what's the way out? Before anything else work out what you really want to achieve. Don't worry about how - just decide "what". The most obvious indication of operating in a treadmill business is just focusing on day-to-day interruptions, and being led by any problems that happen on the day. There you have a recipe for being active without progress! You are allowing everyone else determine what you work on today.
Better, think more broadly and decide what you do want in life. "How" is figured out later. Getting off the treadmill - a rewarding transformation - begins with the end-game and direction for the business. Not just any destination - one that makes it inevitable that the founder gets what really matters to them in life. The founder has to decide on a vision of what the business stands for. This vision will explain what the company will look like, what roles are needed. Make clear the plan, provide the leadership and others can help you get there.
With a clear picture the next step is to work out a specific plan. Importantly, this isn't a typical business plan, but one that sets out the answers to the most important questions. What will the business have to be organised so the leader is finally free from the treadmill, and is enjoying life on their terms and getting a buzz out of really living.
There's little benefit including distracting details in the business plan because, you need to recognise that what will happen in the future is not predictable enough. But you are able to respond to the future if you have the path set and the milestone decisions clearly decided. Therefore there is every reason to set out those milestone decisions that are needed. Decisions of the leadership team, with what facilities the business will operate and what selling activities are decided. Having made those decisions you can have a clear view of the investment. Knowing that, you can then work out the timings of those activities. And with the timings established you can move forwards to the first milestone.
This is straightforward to write down and to recognise this is a strong approach, but it's not straightforward to put into action. In this article I have made clear the common reason why many business owners are running in their treadmill business. I've also described the very start of how you too could get a transformation and step off that treadmill. If you these symptoms sound familiar to your own treadmill business you can find the detail you need in a book that sets it out clearly. There's also free training available to get you going. Many entrepreneurs have already followed the path to this transformation, it just needs the frustration to realise that there's so much more fulfilment than spending time on a treadmill! A decision for a more fulfilling business and a better life is all you need to start the transformation.
Keep growing!
Chris Gardener
I'm Chris Gardener and I've studied and practised life as a business owner for all my professional life. I've supported innumerable business owners to improve performance. I've been involved with businesses from the initial phases, right to large scale operation. My experience as Finance head, CEO and Strategic Mentor means I've seen what does work and what doesn't. I've worked round the difficulties that countless business directors get stuck in. Sadly, I've seen many founders develop a lifestyle but not freedom.
Many people start companies believing they'll achieve freedom. They say they want more happiness with their families. They desire to to choose how and when to work. But it is common for many entrepreneurs to create a successful business, but be it. No freedom. Not enough time with their nearest and dearest. Not on top of it. They're "surviving" instead of "living". But the business plan wasn't meant to have the business like this! The excitement and passion they showed at first have been relentlessly diminished like water wears down rocks. There's frustration, tension and always something to be doing because of work.
So, why is this commonplace? There are many reasons. Usually it's normal that the founder believes they need to do all that matters themselves. They find it too time consuming to delegate. They believe that great client service will only be delivered right by "me", personally. They think that no-one else could be able to operate as well as they can, and that it's inevitable that it'll be too time consuming to teach others. The issue is, behaving in this way can get reasonable personal financial success. So, any change to that jeopardises that comfort. And yet carrying on like this is commonly what maintains the business feeling like a treadmill, not moving forward and not a fulfilling place to be.
So what's the way out? Before anything else work out what you really want to achieve. Don't worry about how - just decide "what". The most obvious indication of operating in a treadmill business is just focusing on day-to-day interruptions, and being led by any problems that happen on the day. There you have a recipe for being active without progress! You are allowing everyone else determine what you work on today.
Better, think more broadly and decide what you do want in life. "How" is figured out later. Getting off the treadmill - a rewarding transformation - begins with the end-game and direction for the business. Not just any destination - one that makes it inevitable that the founder gets what really matters to them in life. The founder has to decide on a vision of what the business stands for. This vision will explain what the company will look like, what roles are needed. Make clear the plan, provide the leadership and others can help you get there.
With a clear picture the next step is to work out a specific plan. Importantly, this isn't a typical business plan, but one that sets out the answers to the most important questions. What will the business have to be organised so the leader is finally free from the treadmill, and is enjoying life on their terms and getting a buzz out of really living.
There's little benefit including distracting details in the business plan because, you need to recognise that what will happen in the future is not predictable enough. But you are able to respond to the future if you have the path set and the milestone decisions clearly decided. Therefore there is every reason to set out those milestone decisions that are needed. Decisions of the leadership team, with what facilities the business will operate and what selling activities are decided. Having made those decisions you can have a clear view of the investment. Knowing that, you can then work out the timings of those activities. And with the timings established you can move forwards to the first milestone.
This is straightforward to write down and to recognise this is a strong approach, but it's not straightforward to put into action. In this article I have made clear the common reason why many business owners are running in their treadmill business. I've also described the very start of how you too could get a transformation and step off that treadmill. If you these symptoms sound familiar to your own treadmill business you can find the detail you need in a book that sets it out clearly. There's also free training available to get you going. Many entrepreneurs have already followed the path to this transformation, it just needs the frustration to realise that there's so much more fulfilment than spending time on a treadmill! A decision for a more fulfilling business and a better life is all you need to start the transformation.
Keep growing!
Chris Gardener
About the Author:
For further detail, you can spend money on the book, or you are welcome to get it with our compliments from our website. You can also get other resources, free training, case studies, examples, tools and much more to help. Get your hands on the download and commit to getting yourself off that treadmill! Go now to the Strategic Mentors site and follow the links to the book and the free training.
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