Do you ever get so lost in the details that you lose sight of the overall goal? Do you have so many day-to-day tasks looming that you feel you can’t advance your business in the direction you want to? If so, you are not alone.
Many entrepreneurs lose sight of the big picture because they are stuck trying to keep up with the everyday steps of running their business.
While it might seem like strategies for a small businesses would be easier than larger companies to manage, actually the opposite tends to be true. Many new entrepreneurs do not have the experience or knowledge to structure their business for long-term success and growth. Even when they do, strategies often get put on the back burner in order to tend to daily customer demands.
But while finding a good balance may prove difficult at first, there are several steps you can take to help your business address its “big picture” needs.
Start by revisiting your mission and vision.
Do they still accurately reflect where you want to take your small business? Do you have the processes in place to get you there? If your current workload and operations no longer align with your mission and vision then something must change.
Successful entrepreneurs need to be able to see both the big picture and the small picture and how they interrelate.
Try working backwards by taking the big picture goal and breaking it down into smaller, more accomplishable tasks. What steps must you take to reach your overall goals? List out each one in detail and what you must do to accomplish it. Ask yourself throughout the day if what you are working on supports your objectives. If not, then move on. If you find yourself lingering on one task too long, then give yourself a time limit and stick to it. Eventually, by completing all of the smaller goals, you complete the bigger goals in the process.
Too much going on that you can’t keep track?
Consider investing in some extra software applications. Installing some operational software to handle your processes can greatly improve the flow of your business. Automating your operations establishes consistency, reduces errors, helps you judge lead times, and regulates your overall work schedule. There are many different business software packages out there that cover a wide variety of needs, so make sure that you choose the one that will best get you to your big picture goals.
If all else fails and you still struggle getting to the big picture on your own, then consider hiring an advisor or mentor.
Oftentimes entrepreneurs are too close to their small businesses and need an objective opinion to help them see clearly and provide direction. By partnering with an outside consultant who can analyze your operations without any emotional investment, you can move past well-intended yet inefficient tasks that ultimately hold you back.
The smaller your business, the greater impact inefficiency has on your bottom line. Everything you are working on shouldn’t keep you from reaching your big picture goals – they should be helping you build up to them.
- Break it down
- Make a plan
- Invest where necessary
Soon the big picture will lead to big business for your entrepreneurial endeavor.