We recently spent a week at the beach. It was relaxing, the weather was beautiful and there was so much to watch. Our condo was 4 floors up with a great view of the beach… and all the people! As I watched people day after day, I realized that there is so much from our everyday lives that can also apply to our business. Some people I saw were standing, some walking, some running, others sitting, others laying….. you know how it goes. If you are a small business owner, your business has probably been in each of those states at some point or another!
It was fascinating to watch the 2-3 guys who worked to set up and take down the chairs and umbrellas every day. They had a process that worked so efficiently. Drilling holes for umbrellas, carrying and setting up umbrellas, then carrying and setting up chairs. They worked hard, stayed focused and had a plan. One day one of the guys wasn’t as efficient as the other 2. Two carried 8 chairs, he carried 4. They ran back and forth, he walked. But he still contributed and helped in completing the job. He didn’t seem to try to do what they were doing. He was fine doing what he could. That was a good reminder that we may be working at different speeds at different times, some of us doing more than others. But we should keep our focus on our goals and objectives – not someone else’s.
One morning a storm blew in after all the umbrellas and chairs were set up. The winds wreaked havoc, blowing things around. Once the storm settled down, those guys got right back out there and adjusted and re-set up everything that had been blown out of place – even knowing another storm was predicted. Another great reminder! When something goes wrong, we can spend too much time in the middle of it instead of stepping back and deciding what we can fix and what we can’t. We lose valuable time worrying when we really need to be starting the repair process.
My take-aways from my week at the beach
- We all need some time away to relax, recharge regularly, and enjoy a different view.
- I need to stay focused on what I am doing and not looking at (i.e., comparing) what others are doing
- Sometimes rough weather happens, clean it up! People are depending on you.
- People come in all shapes, sizes and colors. At the end of the week very few stood out in my memory – except the guy walking on the beach in his speedo and cowboy hat! Don’t be that person everyone remembers in a negative way.
- It’s always great to come home! Vacations are wonderful, but there really is no place like home.
As we head into the 2nd half of 2022, stay focused, make the changes you need to, or want to and enjoy the journey.
If administrative work is keeping you from your focus, give us a call (803-324-9844) or email us to set up a Discovery Call. We can help!