You know that there are an endless number of things to do as an entrepreneur or small business owner. But if you’re waiting for the never-ending to-do list to get shorter before you spend time working on your business instead of in it, you will be waiting forever.
“Far too many people get weighed down in doing, and never take the time to think and feel.” - Richard Branson
It is up to you as the leader of your business to understand the value of spending time working on your business and then make the decision to do it. In this post, I’m going to focus on how and why you should find the space to work on your business - the space to wonder.
The ROI of working on your business
Working on your business allows you to see a myriad of issues and opportunities you would otherwise miss. Becoming aware of these things and taking action will allow you to have more profit and pleasure in your business. Here are just a few of the things that can happen when you work on your business.
By taking time to examine your revenue streams, you may discover that you are offering something that takes a lot of time and energy but doesn’t give you a solid return on that investment or oceans of joy. That’s an offer to discontinue.
And when you stop doing things that aren’t supporting your business, you create space for more fresh and profitable ideas. When your mind is clear, you will be able to come up with these new offers with ease.
In reviewing your business model, you will probably realise that it has been far too long since you’ve increased your prices. This one decision to increase your pricing will bring you more profit and confidence.
Working in your business and on your business requires a harmonic balance. Some weeks or months, you may be able to create more time than others. As a general framework, here are some ideas about how to incorporate time working on your business into your schedule.
Actually, go ahead and put this time in your schedule, now. Otherwise, it probably won’t happen.
I highly recommend that you have at least one day in the week with no client calls or appointments of any kind. And if you can’t dedicate the entire day to working on your business, dedicate at least half of one day.
Take time at the start or end of each month to work on your business to ensure you are building a business that supports you and sustains you.
At least once a year, it’s extremely beneficial to disconnect from the day-to-day and routine work of your business. To make the most of your time and space working on your business, you can add in "space to be" and "space to think" to form a trifecta of possibility. You design a space to wonder.
Creating a prosperous and sustainable business requires attention at the highest level. Taking time to re-examine your business model, marketing messages and marketing strategies is a game-changer.
You can do this by going away, by yourself (or with a business bestie), for at least three days. Five if you travel farther away. This way, you can focus, you can go exactly where you want, and you can go when you want.
Go to a place that ignites your soul and makes you feel alive. Make the decision to focus on your business, organise the trip, turn on your out-of-office message and go.
Not only will this time away enable you to reimagine your business, but you will also have time to rest and recharge and return more determined than ever. Giving yourself the gift of time and space to work on your business will reap numerous rewards for you personally and for your business.
This is one of the best investments you can make in yourself and your business. After all, without you, there wouldn’t be a business. Feeling motivated to schedule some space into your calendar?