7 Reality Checks for you and your Business
In business, just like in life, positive thinking is vital. But so too is dealing with current realities. Balancing these two, sometimes opposing viewpoints, can be a challenge. As a way of staying focused here are 7 reality checks that are useful for you and your business.
1. You will make mistakes.
We are only human. No one is perfect. Despite your best intentions you will make mistakes. Sometimes we can be in the habit of seeking perfection in everything we do, but when you are in business, being perfect is often an unnecessary luxury. To the best of your ability, when you realise a mistake has been made, see it as a time to review what you are doing. Ask yourself ‘what was the root cause of the mistake?’ ‘What can I learn from it?’ ‘Are you trying too hard?’ ‘What can be different going forward?’
2. Things go ‘wrong.’
This is an extension of the first point. Part of being in business is that things will go wrong, sometimes despite everyone’s best efforts. The word ‘wrong’ is in quotes because it is often open to interpretation. For example, you may think everything was carried out correctly but a customer may not be satisfied and from their perspective something has gone ‘wrong.’
We all aim to learn without making mistakes or things going ‘wrong’ but in these stumbling blocks lie the gifts of wisdom we need to thrive. Edison failed many times before inventing the light bulb, each failure was viewed as another way of not inventing the light blub.
3. Not everyone wants or needs what you have.
That’s good news because odds are that you can’t respond to every one anyway. Listen deeply to prospective clients and decline to work with those whom you are not ideally suited. From my own experience, I’ve always had a very clear picture of the sort of clients (individual and business) that I wanted to work with. Equally, I knew the sort of clients I didn’t want to work with. This approach ensures that I focus my time and energies where they have most impact.
4. Customers have bad days, too.
Customers have off days and sometimes they’re going to take it out on you. That doesn’t mean you have to slink home licking your wounds, nor does it mean you strike back aggressively. Remember responding to anger with anger only creates more anger. Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to accept abuse. When you feel unfairly treated, take a few deep breaths, notice what you wish were different, and remember that we’re all human. Maybe it’s time to assess what you will tolerate or not tolerate. Are you pretending that you need to please everyone or that everyone needs to like you in order for you to be happy or fulfilled? In these situations you have to look at how you are behaving, not because you are to blame, but because you are the only one whose behavior you can manage.
5. Sometimes things are beyond your control
When a solution to an issue is beyond your immediate control it is time to practice being available and responsive to customer needs while at the same time not beating yourself up about it. It will happen that on occasion you won’t know how to resolve a problem and you may resent the time you’re using to reassure clients instead of getting things on track. The key in these situations is to be honest with the customer, communicating that you may not know the solution but you do care about finding one as soon as you can. Dignity, conviction, and patience are vital qualities to display.
6. Owning a business can be isolating.
Owning or running a business can mean you don’t have the same support structures available to you. Many entrepreneurs are natural soloists, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need or want support, even though sometimes you may be the last to realise it. What would your business look and feel like if you knew you did not have to hold it all together because there was lots of help at hand? How can you develop more connections that will be your support network? From my experience, the support and encouragement of friends and family is vital. Don’t be afraid to share your concerns with those who have your best interest at heart.
7. You will have your bad days too
Whilst a positive attitude is vital in business you are only human and some days will be more challenging than others. Trying your best every day is important, but realise that your best today may not be the same as your best tomorrow. There will be days when you don’t want to get out of the bed. For most people these days are very much the exception rather than the rule (if it is every day, then you have bigger issues to resolve!) When I have one of those dark cloudy days in my mind, I attempt to do what I need to do, but I don’t beat myself up about it. I know that it will pass and often it is my body telling me to take the foot off the pedal and recharge the batteries a little.
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