More time, more money, more life... We all want that right?

How many of us start our own businesses because we get tired of giving everything we've got to a faceless corporate employer? A lot of us is my guess. And how often do we find that running a small business is even harder work than the 8-6 treadmill job that we left? Why does that happen to so many of us?

When we work for 'The Man' we have our set role. We go to work, we do our job and then we come home again. And the next day, we go back, the place is still there, pretty much as we left it. Except the cleaners have been in, the coffee is on, the bills are paid, the suppliers are dealt with, the customers are serviced... And the list goes on.

Someone coined the term Chief Everything Officer and I think that title's really quite apt for where many of find ourselves within a short time of starting our businesses. We have to do everything unless we either employ others to perform tasks or we outsource from day one. Not many of us want to do that. We try to keep costs down by doing as much of the actual work and administration as possible in-house. And of course, in-house means you and me, right?

So whether it's strategic thinking, business development or ordering paper clips, the decision and execution of the task rolls back to us. Eventually, we hire someone to help with the day to day. Usually admin. We let them order the paper clips. But hang on a minute.... We don't want someone with a stationery fetish ordering Post-It Notes by the truck load (is it just me that thinks new Post-It's smell great? Thought so... ). So just to be sure, we get them to come to us to have the order signed off before it goes to ACME Office Supplies. Err.. What? Yes, we may as well have done the job ourselves. Most of us are really poor at delegating to start with.

That said, I was the other end of the scale in my first business venture and that didn't work either. So as with all things we're talking about finding a balance.

But what else? We're overworked, rubbish at delegating and most of the 'systems' and 'procedures' are really just pretty pictures in our heads. If we're lucky!

And because everything is in our heads, others have to constantly come to us to know what to do, where to go, who to speak to. Can I give this discount or that refund?

How long can we keep working like this and is it any wonder that many small businesses lack a clear vision or strategy? Hands up all those small business owners that would like to take a long summer vacation but daren't because if they do, goodness knows what will happen...... That's what I thought.

So we end up asking ourselves how this happened. Why is this business, which I set up because I didn't want to be a wage slave, not working for me? Surely I should be the number one priority?

You can be if that is what you want! However it doesn't just happen overnight and you need to plan and gear your business to working for you from early on. Preferably from day 1.

Now, I'm not claiming to have the panacea to all ills, but my business partner Michael Christon and I, have just released a video membership programme called Personal Fulfilment Machine (www.pfmmember.com) which, surprise of surprises, helps us avoid or break the cycles we've spoken about. Putting you and I where we need to be and getting the maximum benefit of running a business!

Why did we create this programme? Because we fell in to the same traps early on. In fact, as you'll see in one of the early videos, Michael tells his own story of how he ended up ill and hospitalised after his business took over his life.

I hope you enjoy the videos. Please let me know your thoughts and feedback.

Regards,

Andrew

PS - We are taking on a select number of affiliates so if you'd like to know more, please get in touch.

One more step....

Life's a funny thing at times.When I say at times, I really mean often. Funny strange. And funny ha ha too. But definitely strange. Do you ever feel that despite doing all the right things, you just don't get the breaks? It may not be of any consolation, but it happens to us all, and probably more often than most will admit.

This week has already been a rollercoaster ride and it's only Wednesday!

Monday I chased up a contract that should have been in the bag (and the bank!) about a month ago. No news. Nothing I can do to speed it up so it's a waiting game.

Monday I also went to the physio (finally) to get my knee looked at. Not just for the hell of it. That would be weird! I went because I've had to lay off the running due to knee pain. I'm not used to getting anything other than the odd twinge so this is new. And unwelcome.

The good news is that the physio identified the problem. The bad news I have patellar tendonitis and this means another 3 weeks off the road and the only cardio I can do is swimming. Oh joy.

Tuesday I came home from a day on the road seeing potential customers to find water dripping through the kitching ceiling. No sign of anyone so I put the buckets down. Ceiling stayed put - bonus! - but that will be a plumber and associated costs....

Today one of the laptops went pop. No warning, no obvious issues, just checked out, took it's ball away and went home in a sulk. As I write, it's being taken to computer hospital and a new laptop is being sought to replace it. No small expense there then. Although the kids will be grateful to have a hand-me-down to replace the ones they broke/abused/infested with numerous viruses. I'd like to add 'delete as appropriate' but it was all....

However, on a rollercoaster you get as many ups as downs and so the week has been. The upside of the delayed contract is that it hasn't gone away, it's in the ether being signed off by the man with the big pot of cash. This is a good thing..

The knee thing is really annoying but the good news is I have a diagnosis, it'll be treated and I'll know how to avoid it in future.

Yesterday I had a great meeting with a prospect which I know will translate into business and spawn more contacts and additional opportunity.

Last evening I went to watch my eldest son, who is 10 years old, in his end of term play and as usual he left me amazed at this confidence and bursting with pride. He only had one line, but then the I guess the Mayor of Munchkin City never was one for big speeches.... That said, he sang really well. I clearly don't remember the Wizard of Oz particularly well.

Today, having finished the proposal for the above business I took myself off swimming for the first time in I don't know how long. Back in the day I was a competitive swimmer and today reminded me just how long ago back in the day was! But I also know that I'll end up fit and healthier and with luck I may have inadvertently rediscovered a sport about which I was once passionate.

Today I've also discovered some other opportunities with great potential and reconnected with some old friends.

I think overall the week is evening itself out. No matter how bad we may feel about a situation, it can get better. But you have to take one more step. Or you'll never know....

Opportunity Comes in Many Forms... Don't Miss It!

So here we are at 5pm on Friday and work is all but done (in truth I think most people have been done since lunchtime - a bit of sunshine and scrrrrammm....!). It's been a funny week. In a strange sense not ha ha :). Having had an important piece of business delayed and with some other initiatives start to take shape, another extremely interesting opportunity presented itself this week. A bit of a blast from the past from my time in the IT sector, a former colleague came to me with a proposal to work together on a project completely outside of my current scope. There's a lot to be done before making a decision but it got me thinking.....

We talk a lot about the importance of goals and how staying focused on those goal keeps us on track. Most of us have, or maybe should have(?!) a plan of action around what we're doing and what it is we're trying to achieve in the short, medium and long term.

It IS important to keep your eyes on the prize, no doubt about it. But.... Let's make sure we enjoy the journey as well as the accomplishments. What's the point of working flat-out to climb the mountain, only to have nobody to share the view with at the summit? It would be a travesty to achieve all that we thought we wanted, only to find that we've allowed the things that matter to wither on the vine along the way? The danger of being too-long term focused is that despite best intentions, today can  pass us by. That extra 5 minutes with the kids, the missed opportunity to get some fresh air, to call your friends, to do something other than work. As we've said before, what's done is done. You can't get it back.

The 2nd thing that came to mind is that opportunity presents itself in many forms. And that form probably won't be somebody stood there with a dopey grin and a sign round their neck with the word 'Opportunity' written large...

There's often a better, smarter way to achieve our aims but these options can be easily missed if we're operating at 100mph at the expense of everything else. How often have we said 'if only I'd known about that it would have saved all that wasted time'? What are the odds that the better way was trying to flag us down as we blasted by but we were blind to it? I'm thinking pretty high.

This week, it would have been easy to say 'you know, I'm really busy and I don't have time to meet you. This isn't my thing. Maybe another time....'. As it was, I took the time and discovered a potentially lucrative business opportunity to work with someone I know, respect and trust.

Sound judgement, or pure luck, I'm glad I saw it and acted on it, even though it's a clear deviation from my own plan. Sometimes the road zig-zags a little for a good reason....

It should also be said that you have to determine whether the things that appear to be opportunities are merely distractions in disguise and that's where our judgement comes in. Take time to evaluate. Our gut reactions aren't always 100% accurate but they often serve as a very effective early warning system. The joys of being responsible for our own destinies....!

So let's all try to look up once in a while, take in the view and enjoy the ride.

Thanks as ever for stopping by.

PS - And to my US friends, I hope you have a great 4th July celebration!