This is out of our control...
Everyone likes control. I'd be lying if I said I didn't. Personally and professionally, it feels good to be in control. I'm not talking about tyranical control, but we all like to know the plan, the next move and the outcome. As a business owner, it's important to have control, in the sense that:
You have set clear expectations for your team, and they are equipped to meet (hopefully exceed) those expectations.
You have realistic goals, and your team is working together to achieve them. Everyone is on course.
You know what's going on in your business. You are in the loop, and every component is on track to align.
We could each make our own list of what control looks like, but what happens when things are out of our control? Do you have a plan for that? Are you able to continue on without letting outside factors influence your business? For example, politics aside, no matter who you support, we can all agree that there is unrest within our country. Maybe you're worried about the economy. Are you going to have to lay people off or cut health insurance benefits? Take the pandemic...It was a hard time for many business owners. Maybe you were one of them, or maybe your business was booming. Either way, you need to take a look at your plan. Evaluate the influential factors and how you responded/adapted. There's a ton of examples, but you need to figure out how to adapt to situations where you don't have control. It's easy to be in control when everything is great! What if (and I hope this doesn't happen) a loved one gets sick, and you have to take time off to care for them? I know these are uncomfortable things to talk about, but here's the truth: Of course there are situations, events, catastrophes and people that you can't control. It's unneverving, but you can't let these uncontrollable factors take you off course. Just like I said in my last email, you need to have your "plan" on autopilot. You have to be prepared for the good, the bad and the in-between. So ask yourself, "Am I OK, and will my business still be OK (and hopefully march on towards success) even when we're hit with things out of our control?
No matter where you are when it comes to control, it's always beneficial to have another set of ears. Let's talk about your business successes, obstacles and your adaptation measures. Set up a time to connect with me to dive deeper into staying the course, even when we are hit with things outside of our control.
*New Series: "Business is Booming" begins next week! Tune in Wednesday, (1/27/21) at 3PM EST on my LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.
-Seth