small business gurus - the blog of Cat & Keith Matson

by Cat Matson

Today saw the entire driving population of Samoa change lanes.  Literally.  They have joined their Australian and New Zealand neighbours and started driving on the left-hand side of the road.  (Apparently the change has been made so Samoans can easily receive hand-me-down right-hand drive cars from friends and family living in countries like Australia and New Zealand).

There is widespread outrage and resistance to what is essentially a paradigm-shift.  On the eve of the change Samoans were expecting wide-spread pandemonium, chaos and massive panic as people forget which side of the road they are supposed to be driving on.  But as the Samoan Prime Minister pointed out, anyone who has driven in a country that drives on ‘the wrong side’ finds it odd at first… and then (after about 3 minutes he says) they get the hang of it.

That’s the funny thing about change – the lead-up, the thought and the consideration of the change is generally a lot worse than the actual change itself.

In June 2000, Australians anticipated with dread the introduction of the GST.  Nine years on, it’s just how it’s done now. 

There are reports this week that Australia is emerging from the economic downturn, with job figures on the rise and expectations of an interest rate rise by early next year.  That is a paradigm-shift in itself – the recession that we have all been bracing for is a domestic fizzer… the Australian economy remains strong.

In that context, my question to you is, what changes are you resisting purely because they feel uncomfortable? 

Online marketing or networking?  A new business model?  Using outsourced assistance like a Bookkeeper or Virtual Assistant to free up your time and enable you to build your business? 

The world of business is changing at high speed… it’s not the ‘big’ that are beating the ‘small’ anymore, it’s the ‘fast’ beating the ‘slow'.  You don’t have to like every change… but resisting change because it’s uncomfortable… that’s like driving on the wrong-side of the road.

Igniting your business performance

Alito - Business Mentors, Accountants & Consultants

by Cat Matson

You wish right? 

Well, for a moment, imagine you do…. a magic wand that gives you all the resources, abilities and time to do whatever you want in your business.

What would you do? What would you change? What would you do differently?

Seriously, take a moment to consider these questions.  If you had a magic wand that you could wave above your head and say ‘abracadabra’, what would you ‘magic’ in or out of your business?

This is a powerful brainstorming exercise… and the answers you generate can provide great insights into changes you could or should make in your business.

If your answer is ‘more customers’ – ask yourself, what do I have to do to get more customers? Your mind will then get to work on practical solutions to the problem.

Another answer – ‘eliminate staffing hassles’ – what do you need to change either about your management structures or your internal systems to minimise those hassles?

‘Millions of dollars’ – this is the most obvious ‘magical’ solution to all that ails us, but seriously, what would you do with $1,000,000 if you had it to spend in your business?  Marketing, premises, or ditch the business and start doing something else?

You see, all these answers give you tangible ideas to work with… instead of the litany of complaints of ‘what’s not working’ items most business owners walk around with.  I’m just as guilty… don’t worry… I often moan about my email traffic… only to remind myself that it is through emails that I receive new enquiries, payment advices and event bookings and engage with my ongoing mentoring clients.

Your state of mind is an important tool, if not the most important tool in your business success… if you’d like to see things differently, grant yourself some magical powers for a moment or two and gain some fresh perspective.

(as an aside, a Reflector Session is a great way to have someone else wave the magic wand for you....)

Igniting your business performance

Alito - business magicians