28 Mar Building Your Business for Success
By Paul Barrs.
I’ve been at this ‘small business website’ thing for quite a while now. In fact, it’s coming up to nearly 20 years soon. The first few were really just practice, the next 3 or 4 were me starting to figure it out, and from there on, it’s been nothing more than superb!
When I say ‘figuring it out’ though, what do I mean? Specifically, this time I’m referring to managing my time. And before you go off somewhere else, no, I’m not going to give you one of those yawn-and-fall-asleep time management seminars. The reason why is today I’m only going to talk about one particular thing….
Do what you’re good at, and get someone else to do the other stuff.
That’s it! Small Business Time Management 101. Did you *realise* that most people aren’t really all that good at most things (well duh Paul, of course). No, I’m actually being serious. Chances are you’re good at one or two things that need to be done each day, but no more. You may even be fortunate an be considered “great” at one thing or another.
Me? I’ve got some pretty good graphics on my website, but I couldn’t create graphics quickly if my life depended on it. I have in the past sold DVD programs, yet I’ve never actually tried to author the DVD myself (I did the content while filming, but not the production). I’ve got some pretty amazing scripts running on my site (like my membership script), but it something goes wrong (gets hacked or cracked) and it stops working – I’ve got no idea what to do about it.
In these areas I get help.
However, I’ve been writing since I was eight years old, I did a degree in creative writing when I was just out of high school having my first piece published during my second year… I KNOW I can write. I’ve also been up on stage since I was fourteen, I’ve spoken in front of crowds as much as ten thousand at a time in three different countries… I KNOW I can speak (which is why I’ve done so much audio work over these past years).
BUT – (and here’s the kicker)
Just because ‘I KNOW” that I can *do* these things… does that mean I’m any good at it?
Good Question!
Not necessarily. Just because I might *like* doing something (like writing or speaking – because I’ve been doing them since I was a kid), DOESN’T mean that I’m automatically GOOD at them.
Understand?
You need to ask yourself, “What am I *really* good at?”
You then need to look carefully at your business and see if there’s a way you can implement that (and sell / teach to others.)
That’s the key.
Motivation is what gets you started…
You see, the thing is; yes, I *am* good at writing. I *am* good at speaking…. but those are not the things I am BEST at.
[Sidebar: In order to truly determine what you’re best at, you need outside help and outside advice. We can only *think* we’re good at something… the right person who is ‘outside’ of us (our business, circle of friends, family etc.) can tell us the truth, no matter what the truth is.]
And so having done that, I have learned the truth… the thing that I am BEST at is training. Call it what you want… teaching, training, encouraging, building, motivating… whatever it is where you help one person move from one place in their lives to another, for growth and development and enhancement, THIS is what I’m best at.
And so that’s what I focus on in my business. I get other people to help out with the ‘other stuff”.
It’s vitally important that you take stock of the “what” and “who” you are. That way you can focus your time and make sure that it counts. Take this single principle, not just in business, but in life, and you’ll come to gain a whole new success in things.
- Paul Barrs
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