“At age 50, everyone has the face he deserves.”
~ George Orwell, Novelist

mp900314237-mask-306x360

 

As a small business owner, you have visions and dreams of launching and building a successful business.  What Success means to you personally can vary.  But, can you honestly tell yourself that you have achieved the business that you deserve?

I’m not entirely sure where Mr. Orwell got his perspective on faces being deserved. I doubt that in his heyday people were inundated with advertisements for facial creams and cosmetic surgery to improve their looks.  Back then, people believed a few wrinkles and age spots were signs of experience and victory.  Heck, back then, people were happy to have lived to the age of 50.  Orwell never made it to 50, but died at age 46 of tuberculosis.

When I read Orwell’s quotation, it made me wonder if we took that perspective in another direction — toward business, for instance.  How might that perspective apply?  Actually, it is a perfect fit for evaluating your business.  Do you ever wonder if your company is the business you deserve?

In five or ten years, will you have business you deserve?

Based on what you envisioned your business would become after hard work with some sweat equity applied, are you satisfied today?  Or, are you at least confident you will  achieve your vision in five or ten years?  If you put in the appropriate time and effort necessary, do your research and planning,  and make the right decisions, it is possible.  With that kind of concentrated effort, of course you can make your business become the one you want and deserve.

One thing I can tell you is that taking a fly by the seat of your pants approach is not going to take you where you want to be.  Taking things one day at a time, randomly moving first in one direction and then another is not the way to achieve goals.  Without having a firm grasp on what needs done to grow toward achieving success, you will find yourself just going around and around in circles. You will still get what you deserve, but it is unlikely to be what you wanted to achieve.

Now is the perfect time to take a step back and review your vision and mission. You know, that successful business you dreamed of building when you started out.  The economy is showing signs of improving, although at a pretty slow pace. Consider where you thought you would be at this point in your professional life.  Assure yourself that you are still heading in the right direction.  If you are on the path to the business you deserve, great!  If not, there is no better time to put yourself back on track and planning for the success you dreamed of.  Focus on the strategies needed to keep you on track toward the company you envisioned and deserve.

“Some people dream of success… while others wake up and work hard at it.”  

Winston Churchill

How about you?  Are you wide awake with eyes wide open?  Is your business where you thought it would be by this point in your career?  Let us know in the ‘Comments’ below…