The small business owner's greatest laments:

I hear all the day-to-day problems and end up putting out fires; I don’t plan enough

It’s normal for business owners to get stuck in the day-to-day rush of the business. After all, Stage 1 is known as Entrepreneurial and Opportunistic; owners typically keep fingers on the pulse of everything that’s going on.

But working in the business -- doing everything that has to get done -- gets in the way of working on the business, and charting a path for success.

It is essential for business owners to spend 20% of their time working on the business. That means creating plans, measuring progress, analyzing results and thinking strategically.

Taking that time to work on the business actually makes running the business easier – and more lucrative. Plans are laid, and measured, and come to be, because time is spent insuring that the required resources and actions are lined up and happen. When plans happen, trust builds. With trust comes confidence... and progress.

It all begins with separating from the day-to-day, and carving out regular time for the owner to plan where the business is going. Look for a business consultant with a structure and system to help you efficiently get out of the day to day.

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