Tag Archives: effective business strategies

Why Are You In Business?

As business owners, one of the tasks we often overlook is to stop and think about why we’re in business.  Sure, we know we have to market, sell, produce, and deliver our product.  That’s a given.  Why we do what we do gets short shrift in the process.  That can have an impact on the entire operation of our enterprise.

Perhaps the most critical element in our business is the reason we are in business to begin with.  Some of us started our venture in the hopes our children would have an interest and want to take over some day.  Some got lucky and found a niche that hadn’t been filled yet and are now the cat’s meow in that industry.  Quite a few Baby Boomers want to enjoy their retirement doing something they’ve always wanted to do.  Why did you get into the business you’re in?

Here’s why the answer to that question is so important, and worth revisiting every six months or so:  The reason you are in business becomes your mission, and your mission is conveyed to your employees, customers, and the public as the vision and public persona (if you will) of your company.

That vision becomes the engine that drives your business.  As you will find in the Small Business Owner’s Guide to Marketing, your mission defines the products and services you offer and to whom you offer them.  It clarifies your position in the market and identifies strategies for marketing what you do to the consuming public.  And, as you look at it in terms of your life’s contributions, it also outlines an exit strategy for eventually getting out of the business to enjoy retirement.

You may think retirement would drive you crazy, but your spouse may want you to reconsider that option.  That’s another reason to think about why you’re in business today.

Take the time to think things through.

Developing A Game Plan

The professional football season has arrived!  As the harbinger of autumn, students returning to school, and fall sports, football season also reminds me that business owners need to have a plan for their success.

When you see a coach on the sidelines with his play chart, it’s easy to think of that as a cheat sheet.  In reality, it’s the result of hours of preparation and planning.  The head coach and his assistants have assessed the talent of their players and considered their options for every possible scenario in a game situation.  They know that if the offense faces 2nd down and 15 yards from their own 35 yard line, they can bring in four wide receivers  and execute a 20-yard sideline pass to get the first down.  If they fail to execute and it’s 3rd and 15, there’s another play – perhaps the same one – that is in the plan.

Calling a play

You need game plans for your business and your football team.

 

Yet it all comes down to the basics – the line needs to block.  The quarterback needs a few seconds of time to spot and hit a receiver who’s going to be open.

Your business, to ensure growth and a positive bottom line, also needs a game plan.  Sure, you can jot down some thoughts on a cocktail napkin, but planning for success is a team effort.  Your front line employees must know their assignments, especially as they pertain to taking care of the consumers (opening the holes to make the sale).  Your production team must be prepared to meet the demand and generate results.  Your marketing crew needs to position your efforts to satisfy customers while putting profits on the bottom line (touchdowns – points scored).

Success in business, as in football, is a team effort.  A big difference in business is  that your opponent seldom changes, whereas in football you face a different team each week.  It’s all in the preparation.

A parting thought:  Remember that part of your business plan should include how you deal with adversity, negative press, or economic downturns.  You may say you will let the chips fall where they may, but it makes more sense to know which ones you can pick up and which ones should be chalked up to a learning experience.

As an independent, third party consultant, bringing in a consultant such as Brand Irons can provide you with an emotion-free perspective that puts teeth in your business plan.  it also gives you a consumer’s point-of-view about the perceptions of your business that can prove beneficial in dealing with adversities.