I read an interesting article by Rich Schefren a while back on the power of taking time to think when it comes to growing a successful business. And it echoed what I’ve recently discovered…If I want to grow my business effectively and strategically, I have to take time out just to think. Otherwise I’m constantly being reactive instead of proactive, and that never gets you far.
The problem is that I was raised by a woman who is always, always doing. So if I’m not at least writing an article, or creating plans and flowcharts and checklists—I can feel a little guilty for spending that time “doing nothing”. Of course I know I AM doing something vitally important. I’m thinking!
The ironic part is…I often get my best ideas when I’m not working. So when I have a problem or business puzzle to work out, I know I need to walk the dog around the park with no iPod or friend to talk to…Go for a bike ride. Or sit on my porch and watch the clouds go by. Or, my personal favorite, skin up a peak on skis for a few hours (nothing to do but think on the way up, and the bonus of the fun ski down).
As I got ready to create The Unchained Entrepreneur, I consciously gave myself permission to do nothing BUT think—sometimes for hours on end. And you know what? It’s made a huge difference in both the end result and my stress level.
The guilt still snuck up on me sometimes. But whenever I started to hear that little, negative, badgering voice in my head I thought about another story I read a few months back. I can’t remember where I read it but I believe it was true. Forgive me if I don’t get the details quite right, it’s the moral that’s important.
Anyway, the story was about a hired gun consultant brought into a company to tighten the belt and cut costs. His first order of business was to watch all the employees and ferret out the slackers. Every time the consultant passed one employee’s office he saw the guy doing nothing but sitting at his desk, staring into space.
Needless to say the consultant suggested this employee be the first to be fired. Shocked, the CEO said “No, we can’t do that. He is working hard…He’s my staff thinker and he makes me more money than anyone else.”
The bottom line is…Marketing and growing a successful business takes strategy, planning and thought. You need to be proactive with your decisions, not reactive, or you’ll never achieve your goals. So if you’re so busy doing that you don’t have time for thinking, you’ve got a problem. And if you feel guilty when you aren’t “doing something” you’ve got to get over it.
Start right now by scheduling one hour to work on your business next week.
Then…
Think about where your business is now, and where you’d like it to be…
Think about what’s working and what’s not, and what you can do to have more of the former and less of the latter…
Set some goals…
Brainstorm ideas for growing your business…
Most importantly, ignore that guilt-ridden little voice and always remember that mentally working on your business is just as important as physically working in it.
Do you struggle with taking time away from “doing” to spend time “thinking”?
Have you found ways to make taking time to think easier?
Please do share your thoughts and ideas on this subject by leaving a comment below!
