Lost in Space:

This is all about habits. They  want to be entrepreneurs however what does that really mean? They  work in their business all day, working hard, and comfortably but what price do they pay for their comfort zone? Are they making those cold calls, and meeting new people?   Unfortunately, remaining in this 'expertise' zone is not enough for running a successful business. What is needed is visionary and strategic goals and skills. This requires being a leader and taking action for what you want to achieve.

Busyness:

Activity is not an accomplishment, it's called being busy. I have always said " work smart not hard". Being efficient and effective can be achieved by having the right systems, policies, and procedures as part of your business model. Being in business is not about working so hard you become imprisioned by your business as it grows. Having the wrong strategies can lead to poor results and less freedom with increased headaches. An example is of trying to catch a fish with your bare hands....now my step son when he was 7 actually did this (the true fisherman that he is) however...it was very difficult and he got very wet in the process! No matter how many hours you work if your strategy is wrong it will take you a lot more work to get the same results.

Ineffective Delegation and Leadership:

Far too many small business owners are not thinking like CEO's. This is really what costs because instead of leading they are 'doing'. Working IN not ON their businesses. Check out a prior article regarding this at http://www.darcellerunciman.com/blog . They are micro managing looking at controling and dealing with every issue. At times it's a trust issue, and sometimes they just do not know how to delegate the work to someone else. Stop thinking and working like an employee and start to plan and reflect on your business. Begin to trust that others can help you achieve success for your business, learn systems that can help you operationalize your business so that you have more time for yourself.

Inadaquate Systems:

Many owners do not know how to design a new business with a systems oriented plan, procedures and policies. So by not documenting the process which are (specific and measurable) ways in which you run your business, to make sure it runs smoothly problems arise. Document your flow, define what jobs have to be done and how, so that you can eventually remove yourself from the position. This is important so that you can eventually gain control over your business and not be trapped.

Growing Pains:

Growing a business and getting busy is wonderful for small business owners however two things happen. 1. Cash flow issues. 2. How to deal with all that paperwork and increased workload! So having a properly designed and prepared business, staff, and plan to handle that growth is key. Again, systems and planning for that growth are vital when you own a business. This can be done during a business as well as right at the beginning.

So get out of jail free by having your systems in order or having help from an expert who understands what you need for your business in order to make it as successful as possible while you enjoy working on the company, and learn how to become a more effective leader actively involved in creating your company by design.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE? Feel Free. Simply include this blurb with it: Darcelle Runciman is a Mentor, Author,  Speaker, and CEO of Strategic Biz Builder.  Darcelle coaches entrepreneurs and business owners on understanding their brilliance and how to increase their profits for their companies by taking strategic steps to gain clarity and retain that balance that we all strive for. Darcelle works with groups, through speaking engagements, tele-classes, online products, and Adventure Mentoring Programs. For more information visit www.darcellerunciman.com or  www.strategicbizbuilder.com .