Working Hard But Getting Nowhere? Top 5 Tips For Growing A Small Business
You're wondering why you seem to be working harder and still getting nowhere.
You're putting in the hours and seeing no difference.
I hear you, and a lot of business owners feel exactly the same, but what's going wrong? What are you doing - or not doing - to cause this?
In my experience of helping hundreds of small businesses, I would say that you are probably spending more time IN your business that you are ON it.
Here's what I mean by that.
When you're working in your business, you are spending hours doing the day to day things; selling a product, carrying out a service, admin tasks, sorting deliveries, admin, invoicing, answering emails and making lists.All of these tasks need doing for sure, but do they grow your business? NO.
When you're working ON your business, you are creating fresh content to attract new clients and customers, you're making solid plans and goals, you're thinking ahead and enabling yourself to get there. You might research new offerings, go to a network meeting, spend time in social media platforms making new connections and expanding your reach. All of these things can help you to grow your business.
If you have someone - or even a team - to help you, then delegate the day to day stuff more so you can spend more time ON your business - simple!
BUT if you work alone and you're reading this thinking, '..But when am I supposed to find the time to do all this??', then you need to take a breath and start from the beginning. Take these steps:
1. Decide how you'd like to grow your business:
More clients / different and new products and services / buy new premises / franchise your business / sell things online / offer courses .. or whatever you want to achieve.
2. Find out what you need to do to that.
Do you need to watch tutorials, go on a course, find a mentor, hire shop staff, free up time to make new products etc. Schedule time for those things in your diary. One task a day every day no matter how small, is one more than you're doing right now!
3. Plan your time accordingly.
Be honest with yourself about how much time you have each day to do everything.
Be stricter with yourself when carrying out tasks. If you set aside 30 minutes to reply to emails, then stick to 30 minutes. Being stricter with your time will free up more of it, I promise you!
4. Think of yourself as a staff member!
It can be said that when you work for yourself, you can see time as a more fluid thing. You don't have to get a job done before the clock strikes 5 and your boss is breathing down your neck. You can always finish later.
If you had a staff member who was doing that job for you, and then they went off and spent an hour scrolling mindlessly on Facebook you wouldn't be happy at all! If you wouldn't have them doing it, why are you?!
5. Don't listen to your excuses!
You're tried, you did a lot yesterday, you're not in the mood, you're the boss so if you want to binge a box set instead of working then you're allowed right? Absolutely you are!
Just be aware that you are delaying your own goals and make yourself accountable.
Do I practise what I preach? Absolutely, every day.
I manage my own business full time, as well as helping to manage and develop multiple others, scheduling and creating content for over 40 small businesses from all over the world, while managing a home and a ten year old performer with a busier diary that I have!
It can be done and you CAN do this!!!!
Make 2025 the year that tyou take the bull by the horns and get out of your own way!