Working On Your Business
Way back in 1986, Michael Gerber wrote a book called [easyazon_link asin=”0887307280″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” tag=”designprobe-20″]The E-Myth Revisited[/easyazon_link]. I’ve read this book and the revised version, plus a number of the spinoffs many, many times. They’re a simple read with a powerful message.
It was here that I was first was exposed to the concept of ‘Working on your business’. Effectively, the E-Myth method is to systematise your business like McDonalds. Then, you can employ almost anyone to run it for you as you retire in the background.
Whilst this business model doesn’t suit the typical expert, the principle of working on your business is gold. And, whilst it’s super important, and contrary to what most business coaches will tell you, I don’t think it’s the secret to transforming your business.
Face-to-Face with a Crisis
A few months back I was faced with a business crisis. I had formed a business partnership that went south because my partner was lying to me about what was going on.
It sent me into financial meltdown. Ironically, Michael Gerber talks about a similar experience in one of his books. I think he fell a lot further than I did.
[Tweet “The surprising secret to transforming your business”]
Sometimes it takes a crisis to get back to basics. And, I don’t mean that as a throw-away line. When you’ve got absolutely no money to pay your rent, bills, credit card, etc. life becomes really simple. You focus. And, you focus on the most important things.
Whilst the lack of cash was the immediate business problem, the real problem was deeper than this. And, that’s where this surprising secret to transforming your business comes from.
The Happiness Advantage
The Happiness AdvantageShawn Achor spent more than a decade studying at Harvard on what makes people happy. His work, as published in [easyazon_link asin=”0307591549″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” tag=”designprobe-20″]The Happiness Advantage[/easyazon_link], uncovered a surprising truth.
The typical belief is that if we work hard we’ll be more successful. Then, when we’re successful we can be happy.
Yet, the reality from a psychology point of view says this is completely backwards.
Happiness is the fuel for success, not the other way around.
Working On You
And, this leads to the secret to transforming your business. And, you can’t escape it if your business is you… If you are a solopreneur, business coach, speaker, trainer, consultant or expert, then the surprising secret to transforming your business lies in working on you.
As any Olympic athlete will tell you, you need to prepare yourself first before you go into competition. And, in my case, I needed to create a useful way of being before I could even begin to think about how I could pay my bills.
And, over the past 6 weeks I’ve been working intensively on me. You can use these categories to work on you!
Diet : I’ve completely changed my diet making a complete shift to Paleo.- Exercise : I’ve changed my exercise regime.
- Relaxation : I’ve taken on calm and relaxation.
- Time : I’ve changed the time I get up in the morning.
- Weakness : I’ve taken on completing things – including doing the dishes and making my bed every day. Here’s four strategies to work on your weakness.
- Clutter : I’ve been de-cluttering, giving some things away and throwing away others.
- Habits : I’ve changed some of my work habits – including less writing and more talking to create my content.
- Strengths : And, I’ve changed what I work on to focus more on my strengths around creating products.
Diet : I’ve completely And, the result… I’m happier now than ever before. And, I’m rebuilding my business.
So, that’s my secret to transforming my life and my business: work on you! And, if you want to get started, I suggest you start reading Shawn Achor’s second book, [easyazon_link asin=”0770436730″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” tag=”designprobe-20″]Before Happiness[/easyazon_link].
