As a small business owner do you ever wonder why some of us are really successful and some of us are barely making it. Can I let you in on a little secret? Most of us are hanging by a thread.
Yes, most of us look successful on the outside but in reality we are one payment away from defaulting on the lease of our copier machine. Why is that? It's because most of us are doing everything ourselves, including trying to manage our money and keep up appearances. That's another topic for another day.
We go to chamber functions and give away door prizes that we can't afford to give away. We pick up the check for luncheons for possible clients or friends throwing down a credit card all the while praying that we don't go over our limit. We smile and tell everyone that we own our own business. On the outside we look successful but on the inside we wake up sweating in the middle of the night remembering something we should have done or worse yet, paid.
WHY do we do this? Because owning your own business is the American dream. It is our dream. There are far more cons than pros in owning your own business but the pros outweigh the cons. What? That doesn't make sense to you? Sure it does; if you really look at it.
Do this right now. Take a blank sheet of paper. Draw a large 'T on it. On the top left side of the T write pros. On the top right side of the T write cons. Then start filling in the space underneath both regarding owning your own business. On the cons side you might write 'haven't had a vacation in five years'. On the pros side you might have 'get to take 30 minutes when my kids come home from school to ask them about their day'. Thirty minutes a day with your kids far outweighs a one week vacation in the Bahamas in the long run. To you and to them.
You should do this once every quarter just to make sure that you are in business for the right reasons. If ever the cons start outweighing (not out-numbering but outweighing) the pros then you have to take a serious look at going back into the workforce and possibly working for someone else. If just the thought of that makes you cringe then keep looking for those pros.
Small Business Marketing Coach Tip: The best way to help you realize why you do what you do is to collect testimonials from your satisfied clients. Ask them to write down why they do business with you and why they continue to come back to you for your products and/or services. Share those with others through your marketing materials and your website. Read those testimonials on those days when you think working for yourself isn't everything you thought it was going to be and smile.
Be proud that you are living the American Dream. Congratulations! You are a business owner.
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