In this excerpt you'll see how, even with a written business plan, tragically, many owners are stuck in their business and don't have the autonomy they desperately hanker for. I'm also going to reveal how they can remodel their company and lives with a specific tool and a method to business planning that can make all the difference. You can get all the detail in a book that's selling on Amazon at 12.99, or you can instantly get your hands on a free download version here: The Strategic Imperative.
I'm Chris Gardener and I've studied business for 21 years. I've mentored over 200 business owners to grow output. I've been involved with businesses from the initial phases, all the way to large scale trading. My qualification as Finance head, CEO and Strategic Mentor means I've learned what does work and what doesn't. I've worked through the challenges which too many business directors get stuck in. Sadly, I've come across a large number of owners get a lifestyle but not life without a treadmill.
Many people set up businesses intending to get freedom. They want more precious time with their families. They crave to be in control of their own lives. However, it is all too common for many founders to create company, but be trapped in it. No great life. Not enough time with the ones they love. Not on top of things. They're "being" instead of "living". And yet the business plan wasn't meant to have the business like this! The optimism and belief they demonstrated when they started have been relentlessly reduced like wind grinds away stone. There's pent up frustration, stress and too much time at the business.
Why is this commonplace? For many reasons. Usually it's because the founder wants to do all that matters themselves. They believe it's difficult to delegate. They worry that great customer treatment will only be done in the right way by "me, personally. They believe that no-one else could be able to operate as well as they do, and that it will take too long to teach others. The headache is, doing things in this way can deliver commercial success. And so, any level of change to the status quo risks reducing that performance. But continuing to work in this way is usually what keeps the business working like a treadmill, wheel spinning and not a fulfilling place to be.
So what's the way out? Before anything else actually decide what you really want to achieve. Don't worry about how - just get clear on "what". The biggest symptom of being busy in a treadmill business is spending most time on nagging but minor priorities, and being controlled by any niggles that call for attention. There you have a recipe for being run ragged without progress! You're allowing anyone else dictate what you do today.
Better, think bigger and conclude what you do want to happen. "How" comes in the next step. Escaping from the treadmill - a rewarding transformation - starts with the destination and direction for the business. Not just any destination - one that makes it inevitable that the business owner achieves the life they really want. The founder must create a vision of what the operation stands for. This description will describe what the business will be like, what roles are needed. Decide the plan, act as the leadership and other people can then help you get there.
With a clear vision it's then possible to work out a clear plan. Importantly, this is different from a typical business plan, but it's a plan that makes decisions about the critical few key questions. What does the business need to operate so the leader is no longer on the treadmill, and is enjoying the fruits of their labours and getting fulfilment out of spending time with the people who really matter.
There's no benefit including day-to-day details in the plan because, you know that the future can't be controlled. However, you can react to the alternatives if you have the map set and the milestone decisions clearly laid out. So there is every need to set out those major decisions that will make the difference. Decisions of the senior team, where the business will operate and what selling activities are decided. Having made those decisions you have a clear picture of the investment. Now you know that, you can determine the timings of those activities. Now you have the timings set out you can set off to the first milestone.
This is easy to write down and to recognise this is a strong approach, but it's not easy to do. In this paper I've made clear the typical explanation why many business owners are stuck in their treadmill business. I've also set out the initial steps to how you too are able to get a breakthrough and step off that treadmill. If you you know this is happening in your own treadmill business you can find the detail you need in a book that sets it out clearly. There's also free training available to help you get going. Many founders have already followed the path to this transformation, it just needs you to realise that there's so much more to life than spending time on a treadmill! A decision to only accept a better business and a better life is all you need to start the transformation.
Keep growing!
Chris Gardener
I'm Chris Gardener and I've studied business for 21 years. I've mentored over 200 business owners to grow output. I've been involved with businesses from the initial phases, all the way to large scale trading. My qualification as Finance head, CEO and Strategic Mentor means I've learned what does work and what doesn't. I've worked through the challenges which too many business directors get stuck in. Sadly, I've come across a large number of owners get a lifestyle but not life without a treadmill.
Many people set up businesses intending to get freedom. They want more precious time with their families. They crave to be in control of their own lives. However, it is all too common for many founders to create company, but be trapped in it. No great life. Not enough time with the ones they love. Not on top of things. They're "being" instead of "living". And yet the business plan wasn't meant to have the business like this! The optimism and belief they demonstrated when they started have been relentlessly reduced like wind grinds away stone. There's pent up frustration, stress and too much time at the business.
Why is this commonplace? For many reasons. Usually it's because the founder wants to do all that matters themselves. They believe it's difficult to delegate. They worry that great customer treatment will only be done in the right way by "me, personally. They believe that no-one else could be able to operate as well as they do, and that it will take too long to teach others. The headache is, doing things in this way can deliver commercial success. And so, any level of change to the status quo risks reducing that performance. But continuing to work in this way is usually what keeps the business working like a treadmill, wheel spinning and not a fulfilling place to be.
So what's the way out? Before anything else actually decide what you really want to achieve. Don't worry about how - just get clear on "what". The biggest symptom of being busy in a treadmill business is spending most time on nagging but minor priorities, and being controlled by any niggles that call for attention. There you have a recipe for being run ragged without progress! You're allowing anyone else dictate what you do today.
Better, think bigger and conclude what you do want to happen. "How" comes in the next step. Escaping from the treadmill - a rewarding transformation - starts with the destination and direction for the business. Not just any destination - one that makes it inevitable that the business owner achieves the life they really want. The founder must create a vision of what the operation stands for. This description will describe what the business will be like, what roles are needed. Decide the plan, act as the leadership and other people can then help you get there.
With a clear vision it's then possible to work out a clear plan. Importantly, this is different from a typical business plan, but it's a plan that makes decisions about the critical few key questions. What does the business need to operate so the leader is no longer on the treadmill, and is enjoying the fruits of their labours and getting fulfilment out of spending time with the people who really matter.
There's no benefit including day-to-day details in the plan because, you know that the future can't be controlled. However, you can react to the alternatives if you have the map set and the milestone decisions clearly laid out. So there is every need to set out those major decisions that will make the difference. Decisions of the senior team, where the business will operate and what selling activities are decided. Having made those decisions you have a clear picture of the investment. Now you know that, you can determine the timings of those activities. Now you have the timings set out you can set off to the first milestone.
This is easy to write down and to recognise this is a strong approach, but it's not easy to do. In this paper I've made clear the typical explanation why many business owners are stuck in their treadmill business. I've also set out the initial steps to how you too are able to get a breakthrough and step off that treadmill. If you you know this is happening in your own treadmill business you can find the detail you need in a book that sets it out clearly. There's also free training available to help you get going. Many founders have already followed the path to this transformation, it just needs you to realise that there's so much more to life than spending time on a treadmill! A decision to only accept a better business and a better life is all you need to start the transformation.
Keep growing!
Chris Gardener
About the Author:
For the promised detail, you can purchase the book, or you are welcome to get it with our compliments from our website. You'll also find other information, free training, case studies, examples, tools and much more to help. Get access to the download and commit to getting yourself off that treadmill! Go straight to the Strategic Mentors site and follow the links to the book and the free training.