Are you ready to stop treating your business like a hobby? Those words hit me like a ton of bricks.
The question was asked generically to a crowd of people, but I felt like I was the only one sitting in the room and the spotlight was shining directly on me.
The question I had to ask myself was obvious: “Am I treating my business like the multi-billion dollar company it is, or a hobby, something to occupy my time and nothing more?”
So I drew a line in the sand and crossed. I closed my eyes to see the world I entered, my professional business.
I was surrounded by my own office. No, this was not a closet or a bedroom with a desk. It wasn’t a corner in the basement or the kitchen table. This was MY office. My own space with my own desk and my own computer.
There is something so special and amazing about having your own space.
Part of having your own space should include having your own phone and phone number. When someone calls the number on your business card and you don’t answer, what kind of message do you get? Are you hearing one of your children say “Mommy/Dad isn’t here right now, but he’s leaving a message?” If you want your kids to leave their message, let them do it on your home phone.
Don’t get me wrong, I have kids and I love them, but your company voicemail is not a place to spotlight your kids.
Do you have a professional recording so people will recognize your voice?
Do you have a bank account set up specifically for your business? If not, go out and find your own personal banker…. Shake their hand. Be professional and let them know that you have a business that will soon bring a lot of money to their vaults. Be confident! There is something about having your own personal banker that makes your business so real.
Do you find yourself with a shortage of time every day to work on your business. Maybe you only work at your business part-time and still have a full-time job. That’s perfectly fine, you just have to plan your time a little better. You are a morning person. Am. I made the decision to get up an hour earlier to work on my business.
These are the rules: No phone; Email number; No web browsing; Without children; no dog; No husbands. You get the picture. This time it’s for your business, and your business alone.
You will be surprised how much you do. Shower first and get ready to head out the door when your hour is up. If you pack your lunch, do it the night before. You don’t want anything to interrupt this time.
When you’re ready to really put this hour on steroids, let’s take it one step further. Get up 15 minutes before the original time and get on the treadmill. Go from a leisurely walk to a brisk 15-minute jog. You will have more energy and your business will start to thrive!
Finally, remember these two keywords: Baby Steps. To be clichéd, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your new and improved clothes won’t happen overnight. Just keep moving forward, taking baby steps, making progress every day, and soon you’ll be wondering where all the extra business is coming from.