Must have more research?

Do you think you need to canvas loads more opinions to get the right answer on what you want to do in your business? Feel reassured by research but always wondering if you have made the right decision? We know, when talking to some clients, that they have serious self doubts and almost anything they need to make a decision on is sent off for comments via forums, Facebook, Twitter and email to lots of people. Shall I buy this piece of equipment, does this work for anyone else, how about if I do this?

LEARN THE POWER OF ONE

If you find yourself asking loads of people and waiting for lots of answers before making your move its time to take a hard look at why you are doing this. It’s a form, for many of us, of procrastination. You are putting off the decision by kidding yourself you need research and in the process you are wasting time and effort you should be using to take the step needed, the action you need to push your business forward. The thing is real research is systematic and not for decisions on your business, it’s hard wired into your plan in what areas need research, not done on the hoof every time you hit a rough spot or are grappling with spending $5 on Fiverr.com! Learn the power of one, develop your true North, have faith in your ideas and abilities and measure what you do.

STOP! YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO MAKE DECISIONS

Seriously? You don’t need to build a committee around yourself to spend some money from your business, you need to learn how to make decisions, be able to prove the benefit of spending or doing something in line with your business plans. And there is the rub, running a business without a plan, without a strategy, leads you to woolly-minded thinking and daft decisions. Everything you see and come across for sale, on offer or could be business related starts to appeal, you wonder if this or that is the magic bullet and when it’s not, well, that’s where the self-doubt comes in and you turn to others for advice, help and reasons to follow the thoughts cropping up in your mind every 5 minutes.

PLAN FOR ACTION AND TOOLS TO HELP

With a business plan you can chunk it all down to actions per month, per week and per day, that leaves less room for running scared and asking lots of other people about things you need to make decisions on yourself. You end up with just one big question you can answer each time, ‘Does this thing, action or person add value and get me where I have planned to be?’ Yes or No – the answer is clear. If No, decision made and move on; if Yes then you can look at financing the spend (if there is one) or just take the action needed.

BUSINESS CAN BE A BIT LONELY

The truth is that business is a lonely master at times; don’t mistake opinions and helpful suggestions from friends as solid commercial advice. You need to find your own inner compass or your stress levels will rise and you will soon not have a business to be talking about. If being alone and working through things yourself is a problem then either get over it or seriously consider whether running a business is for you. If you would not pay the person for giving you business advice stop listening to them offering their input for free!

TOOLS, TIPS AND FREE HELP

For more tips and help sign up to our free newsletters and subscribe to this blog. We are running a number of free webinars this year so by signing up to our free resources you will have access to all we do and be able to select what will be most helpful. Of course, we would love to see you in our business help clubs and programmes but understand you will need to get to know us first. It’s only really when stuff starts working for you that you realise the magic can happen.