The daily grind is the great equaliser. Young or old, strong or weak – all eventually fall to the grind, and nothing has as much of a grind as running a small business. There’s tons of daily minutiae to worry about, and if you don’t approach it the right way, it will wear you down. Here are a few ways you can turn the tables and make the grind work for you:
- Stay Focused
Distractions are everywhere. Some are completely unrelated to your small business, while others are things that are related, but are essentially a waste of your time. Every task you take on that is best delegated to someone else is a task that eats your time and energy.
Focus on big important tasks that befit the leader of a small business. If it’s something small that someone else can do, let them do it. Unless absolutely necessary, stay on the big picture.
- Constant Movement
The biggest advantage a small business has over large organisations is in its speed and flexibility. With few moving parts, you can pivot in a heartbeat relative to those ponderous beasts. Take advantage of that by focusing on constant movement.
You can’t afford to waste a day. Let the grind work for you by pushing for daily achievements, no matter how small. Every step forward is a step in the right direction. However, don’t forget to take breaks every now and then. Get the rest you need so the grind doesn’t lead to burning out.
- Help the Team
You’re not alone in your small business. With you is a team you handpicked, a team that will help your company scale and grow. Leaving them to their own devices can work, but it’s far from efficient or ideal. When you have the time, help your team become better at their jobs. Mentor them and make them capable. The better your employees are, the more easily you’ll be able to delegate tasks.
More importantly, no successful company came from an individual. It comes from having a strong and skilled team. The more you invest in them, the brighter your small business’s future becomes.
- Study Constantly
Many times, the grind wins because you run out of options. Eventually, you get to a point where you need to take a break just so you can find out what to do next. Unfortunately, this can result in getting sent back mentally and emotionally. Don’t let yourself get to that point – study or learn constantly.
Don’t focus on just getting things done. Take some time, frequently, to study up on industry developments, to do networking, getting a mentor or coach or attending expos. Doing so will keep you from getting caught flatfooted and allow you to be proactive in the learning process.
Do Something Different
Nothing wears down your passion like doing the same thing repeatedly. It doesn’t matter how much you love your small business – if it feels like every day is the same, you’ll get tired of it. You may even grow to hate your company.
Avoid that by doing something different every day. That doesn’t mean you have to replace your daily required tasks, only that you should add something new to your daily routine. Changing things up will keep your mind sharp and your passion healthy.
Even with all this, you may find the small business’s daily grind wearing you down. At that point, it may come down to your believe (faith) in yourself. You must have faith that what you’re doing is working, that it’s going to be worth it. If you don’t believe in your company, nothing will make the grind worth it.
