Laying a Foundation for your Business
Laying a Foundation for your Business By Abe Cherian Copyright
? 2005
Running a business gets so demanding, that we often can't see
the wood for the trees. We become preoccupied with ensuring that
everything in the business works the way it is supposed to. In
other words, we spend most of our time working in the business.
The problem with this operational focus is that it is easy to
lose sight of what could be done in the business to make it run
better. The business will only prosper in the long term if you
devote a lot of attention to improving how the business works
and increasing its capacity.
Spending a lot of time working on the business, makes it grow in
the long term. Business growth is sustainable and things just
keep on getting better. If necessary, get other people to work
in the business. Working on the business should be your top
priority.
Failure to work on the business causes it to become trapped. It
is almost like the business gets stuck in a box. The business is
unable to dynamically take advantage of opportunities. And it
fails to adjust to a rapidly changin g environment. Eventually,
the business starts losing its competitive edge. A one way
downhill trip becomes almost inevitable.
Most businesses fail or under perform because business owners
spend too much time working in their businesses. And not enough
time working on their businesses. The biggest fall out is during
the first year. 29% of new businesses never make it into their
second year. And 65% of businesses close their doors within the
first 5 years.
Research shows that the biggest cause of business failure is the
lack of a Strategic outlook. People who start businesses tend to
be very focused on operational issues. The preoccupation with
working in the businesses causes an almost exclusively
Operational Focus.
The lack of a Strategic outlook means that little attention is
paid to laying the foundations that business success is built
on. Because Strategic Action is not taken in the business, it
stagnates. And gradual decline follows. Even if you get through
the first five years, you aren't home and dry yet.
Many businesses that manage to get through the first five years,
also lack that all important strategic outlook. For them, a
different set of problems arise. Initiating strategic outlook
enables business techniques you will need to become successfully
occupied for the foundation, which is the first building blocks
of any business.
About the author:
Abe Cherian's online automation system has helped thousands of
marketers online build, manage and grow their business.
Test-Drive iMediatools for free and watch your sales shoot up.
http://www.imediatools.com