When you’re already working hard to grow your business, and it’s not getting the results you need, working increasingly harder is a bad move. So, today I’m going to give you a much more effective alternative.
I’ve worked with some amazingly successful people over the years. In 2024 alone, this has included three business owners who took their small businesses from zero to over $10Million. None of them worked as hard as a hard-working, struggling business owner. And they certainly didn’t work longer hours.
So, what did they do?
Instead of over-working and working longer, the owners of successful businesses…
- Invested in expert help.
- Discovered how to do the right things correctly. Then got to work.
- Regularly monitored their progress and adjusted as required.
- Never made business decisions based on general advice.
- Always accepted responsibility for their results.
But they absolutely did not work harder than a struggling business owner.
Why?
Because NO ONE works harder than a struggling business owner.
Here’s what happens.
When a business owner isn’t getting the results they need, the tendency is to over-compensate by working increasingly harder, doing longer and longer hours. So, that’s what they do. If you’ve tried this for any period of time, you’ll know it doesn’t work. It can also effect your overall well-being.
That’s a very unproductive mix, which does nothing to improve the situation. It leads to ineffective decision-making, increased stress and reduced enthusiasm. What’s more, it’s something prospective clients or customers pick-up on instantly.
The way forward
When a business isn’t heading in the right direction, the harder the owner works and the longer they work, the further away they become from where they want their business to be. It’s time to stop over-working, get guidance and then proceed in the right direction.
Stop over-working: Because your current activity is moving you away from your goals or targets, which is making your situation worse.
Get guidance: Because you need to know what to do and/or get the help to do what’s required.
Proceed in the right direction: Because your work will now be rewarded.