Work On Your Business Instead Of Being A Slave To It.

by Wendy Hearn

Well, let's examine what 'working smarter' is and you can decide for yourself whether you're implementing it sufficiently or not. One of the ways to work smarter in your business is outlined in Michael Gerber's book 'The E-Myth Revisited' and it amounts to the winning strategy of working 'on' your business rather than working 'in' it.

Someone who works in their business spends all their time in the day-to-day operations, such as answering phones, doing the accounts and managing staff. Working on your business requires that you stop, take a couple of steps back and look at the whole of your business objectively. That may include marketing and sales strategies, and developing systems and procedures. Working on your business gives you an opportunity to assess, evaluate and identify new improvements, possibilities and ideas. It's the difference between your business providing you with a job and the success you truly want.

I first came across the idea of working on your business when I read Michael Gerber's book 5 years ago. It was a real eye opener at the time and I've continued to be aware of the principle of working on your business, even if I did need an occasional nudge to remind me of its importance. This was brought home to me again at a seminar I recently attended. While talking to many people there it surprised me to find that for many of them this was the first time they had come across the idea of working on your business rather than in it. The impact on them was quite profound and reminded me that many business people get stuck in running their business. This idea of working on their business and hence working smarter wasn't integrated into their usual business routines. Working on your business is essential to give you the insight and information you need to be successful.

The most important aspect of working on your business is that you take time; about 1 hour per week to be away from your business with the sole intention of looking at it objectively. There are many things which can be considered in this hour and range from vision, strategies and systems. Until you stop and do this, your business is likely to keep running you, leaving you jaded and uninspired, and unable to reach your full potential. For now, don't worry about the detail of what you need to do in the 1 hour per week - that will become clear as you do it. I invite you to make the choice now to spend this time working on your business. Imagine the ideas, improvements and opportunities you may see.

What I want for you is a business that you run and control successfully rather than a business that controls and runs you until you're burnt out.