Too close to the forest to see the trees!
How many times have you heard this old adage? Not seeing the forest means you are not seeing clearly what’s right before your eyes. In business, it means being too close to your own business; not clearly seeing the whole picture. Being too close and emotionally involved (which is normal) is a recipe for revenue disaster. Bill was intent on hiring a costly employee to do a task more efficiently handled by a specialized service. It took him several weeks and numerous employees meetings to figure this out on his own.
In recent weeks, I’ve met three other business owners who came up with a business strategy they were positive would expand their customer base. In each case, their strategy was layered on top of a weak business infrastructure. The solution was doomed no matter how much they spent.
Every one of these seemingly savvy entrepreneurs was simply too close to their business to see the whole picture. They spent far too much time wasting money on scattered non-productive activities because they lacked clarity, focus and direction. Below are three tips for avoiding costly revenue drains.
Slow down to speed up
Pause and take a step back from your day-to-day activities. Research two to three different solutions before leaping ahead.
Have a vibrant vision statement guiding your goals and intentions
Make sure the challenges you think need resolution are really what needs attention. Include you employees in your vision. Are they same page with your goals or just being nice?
Invest in yourself before investing in fragmented solutions
A trusted business advisor has no emotional attachment except to your success. An advisor’s job is to help you see clearly through the forest so there is more green on your trees.
Joyous Prosperity,
Marilyn August,
Wealth and Wisdom Seminars
America's Leading Mind Over Money Experts
Michelle Hood, MaryKay Independent Consultant
