“To say it was a beautiful day would not begin to explain it. It was that day when the end of summer intersects perfectly with the start of fall.” – Ann Patchett Click To Tweet
In just a few short weeks, students will return to school. Summertime will be largely over, despite those lingering warm days and the calendar firmly stating that we’re in season until September 21st!
We’ll soon hear about the “back-to-school” mentality: Savor the many memories created during these blissful sun-filled months, but it’s time to buckle down again. Time to get back in the swing of things and once again shift into the mindset of learning and education.
For business owners, there too exists a seasonality that we all follow. Things in business are cyclical. Summer and winter seem to be introspective times of the year. We go deep and explore what’s working (and not) in our businesses. It’s a time to reflect, to process and to examine.
Whereas spring and fall are designed to be the energizing “push times” where we drive things forward. We implement. We expand and grow. We scale upward.
The lazy summer days allow us to operate at a slower pace. Our mindset follows suit. Summer is naturally a time when families take vacations and get away from it all. In order for us to be truly effective business owners, downtime is a must. As is spending time with the ones we love.
As summer winds down, business owners find time to reflect and plan. It’s when we slow down a bit (not stop!) and look at all that we’ve accomplished thus far. We ask ourselves what changes – or even simple tweaks – need to be made. What feels good in our business, and what doesn’t.
Just as students return to the classroom and dive into the back-to-school mentality, business owners do the same. They make the mental and psychological shift back to a normal routine and embrace a structured schedule. Focus is the order of the day. They look ahead to the end of the year and begin asking themselves what they need to do in order to have a strong finish to the year. What can they let go of? Where can improvements be made? What are the decisions they can make that will further strengthen the foundations of their business and set them on the course of even greater success?
“For tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.” – African Proverb Click To Tweet
Business owners consider what processes and procedures they need to put into place so they can shore up the fundamentals of their business. Perhaps new programs, tools or apps can help the business owner run their business with greater ease and efficiency. Are there subject matter experts they can partner with who can help lighten the load? For instance, a knowledgeable bookkeeper who will keep their books pristine and organized. Or an IT expert who will safeguard their computer systems. Or a small business attorney who will ensure that both you and your business are legally protected.
Within all these important decisions, another vital consideration will likely also arise: What direction do I want my business to take as the year winds down and I prepare for the next? How will I achieve this and what do I even want it to look like?
Unfortunately, for many business owners, the overwhelm creeps in and they shove this critical internal discussion off to the side. They simply have too much on their proverbial plate to deal with. And yet, they know deep down that they need to fully understand what direction their business should naturally take.
This vital work is what I do with my clients. I partner with them to allow their fears to fall away and then together, we examine all the goodness that they’ve accomplished thus far in their business. Together, we dissect the awareness that came up for them over the summer season as they pondered and examined. We then create a well-thought-out strategy to further develop that vision so there’s a complete picture of their unique purpose and goals.
As a fellow business owner, I fully understand how important it is to have that strategic plan in place. Without a strategic plan, a company won’t have any clearly defined goals or objectives. This means that the business owner has nothing tangible to focus on. Ultimately, their business will make little to no progress forward because they have no plan for the future.
“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now.” – Alan Lakein”
My heart is devoted to ensuring that my clients have that strategic plan in place and that it’s truly aligned with their strategic purpose. And I’m here to help get you where you want – and NEED – to be.
If you’re ready to put your next steps in place so you can powerfully scale your business upward, you’re in the right place. I’m ready to be your trusted resource who will help you to uncover your unique strategy. I’m excited to provide the guidance you’ve been seeking to move forward with confidence and certainty. I’m here to help you connect with your prospects on a deep emotional level. Book a discovery call with me here.
