It’s easy to keep chugging along in your business, not really paying attention to the state of things, until something big happens. Maybe your biggest client leaves, creating a hole in your income. Or you get sick, and there’s no one else to run your business.
Sometimes it’s something less catastrophic that gives you reason to consider whether you should keep running your business. Maybe you’re just selling less than you used to or you feel like you’re in a dead end and need a new direction.
This is the perfect opportunity to reinvent your business.
What Reinvention Means
Now, I’m not suggesting you start from scratch or create a new business. I’m simply suggesting you look at what’s not working well in your business and fix it. That might be:
- A lack of industry contacts to help you create partnerships
- Not having enough time in the day to grow your business
- Employees that keep quitting, leaving you in the lurch
- Not having the resources to market your business
Every small business has challenges, but only the smart ones face those issues head on and come up with solutions that will help them get to the next level.
Tackling Problems One at a Time
You probably have more than one challenge in your business. It can feel like you’re drowning when all those issues call out to you at once. Sure, it’s easy to ignore all of them than to sit down and get a plan, but you’re not doing yourself any favors that way.
I encourage you to block off an hour or more this week, and make a list of those issues. Then pick one. Just one. It can be the most difficult or the easiest. It doesn’t matter. Take that one problem and brainstorm ways to fix it. Even if you think you can’t afford the solution, make that list.
Let’s use an example. Let’s say your problem is that you run a retail store and have gotten so busy helping customers that you haven’t had time to work on your business strategy. Some solutions would be:
- Hiring part time sales help
- Working on strategy after hours or weekends
- Reducing store hours so you can devote time to strategy work one day a week
Only you know which is the best solution for your business (and your budget). But sometimes just the act of writing out your problems — as well as their solutions — is enough to nudge you toward making change.
Taking Reinvention Up a Notch
If you want more help in reinventing your business, I want to invite you to attend my Reinvention Weekend 2016 on October 14-15 in Crystal City, VA. I’ve run this event for several years now, and any of the hundreds of participants we’ve had can tell you: it will inject rocket fuel into your reinvention plan.
On Saturday, we’ve got a full lineup of workshops hosted by some of the biggest name in small business, including:
- Jennifer Abernethy
- Che Brown
- Dianna Geairn
- Twyla Garrett
- Barry Moltz
- Pamela Slim
They’re going to be talking to entrepreneurs like you about marketing, growth, organization, and networking. It’s a unique opportunity to help you figure out what’s wrong in your business and make it right.
If you register now through July 15, you can take advantage of Early Bird Pricing at just $97 for the General Admission ticket AND you can bring a friend for free! What are you waiting for? Sign up before the price rises.
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