If business worries are causing you (or a friend) problems right now, this post is written just for you!
I had real trouble sleeping last night. I was excited. I kept thinking about some of the plans I am working on and it seemed just as I was getting drowsy, I had another idea. I ended up having to get out of bed, so I could write the ideas down. Twice! Sadly, many people find it hard to sleep at night for other business-related reasons.
Business worries need a solution
Last month, a friend told me that he had been unable to sleep. He was kept awake, worrying about the future of his business. Apparently, he hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep for weeks and it was taking its toll on him and his wife. I set a couple of hours aside to look at his business and share some ideas with him, and he’s already starting to see some much needed results. He is also starting to sleep again, which will help him enormously.
We each need to ensure that if our business is to keep us awake occasionally, it is with excitement, not apprehension. Apprehension in business, comes when we see there is a problem, and can’t figure out how to resolve it. We then play out all the possible, often frightening scenarios in our mind. This use of the human imagination is extremely powerful and can make us ill. It is also the worst possible use of our imagination, when we are faced with something that needs a solution.
Business worries sometimes need additional expertise
The approach I use, is to spend just enough time learning exactly what the problem (or challenge) is. Then, as soon as I know exactly what I am dealing with, I spend the rest of the time looking for answers. If I can’t find the answer myself (and here’s the really important part) I start looking for someone who has the answer. When my friend came to me with that problem, which had stopped him from sleeping and was worrying him sick, we were able to resolve it over 2 cups of coffee. I had the answer he needed.
One of the most valuable assets you can build around your business, is a network of people with expertise in all the key areas of business. People often see networking purely as a way to find new clients or introducers, who can introduce them to new clients. This is a myopic approach to business development and networking.
Spend time developing a group of great people, who have the resources you and your business need. When you require expert advice, it’s always easier to discuss it with someone you already know. (By the way, this is one of the benefits of blogging. If you regularly “show up” in people’s lives via your blog, they feel as if they already know you!)
Connect with a great accountant and lawyer. Get to know your bank manager too, as she is far more likely to be of help to you if she knows more about your business and your needs. Accountants, lawyers and bank managers are also usually very well connected too, which massively expands your field of resources by association.
If you are worrying about your business right now, stop! Spend that time either looking for the answer you need, or the people you need.