Building A Business: 2 Steps Forward And 1 Step Back

So, you’re building a business? No matter how far you have come, you know by now that building a business isn't a linear process. And if you haven’t learned that lesson by now, you can take my word for it. As much as we’d like to follow a step by step plan to reach business success, that simply isn’t how it works. 

Whether you own a lawn care business, a restaurant, or you freelance from home you can expect to experience the 2 steps forward, 1 step back phenomenon from time to time in your career. I say this not to be negative or discourage you from trying, but so you can be prepared when it happens to you. And to be honest, 2 steps forward and one step back is still one step forward.

So how do you overcome those back steps? 

Be prepared. Perhaps your back step is financial. You own a store or restaurant in a small downtown community and during summer as local families are leaving town for summer vacation your business starts to suffer. Suddenly it seems as though no one is eating out anymore. It’s important to think ahead and prepare yourself for the seasons to come. 

Prepare yourself emotionally so that you can easily rise above adversity without letting it weigh you down. And even more importantly, prepare yourself financially so you can slide through the hard times without fear of losing everything. If there is a lull in business that occurs every year at the same time, make a plan to address it.

Take a risk. Once you are properly prepared for the step backs that inevitably will come, pat yourself on the back and feel good that you made positive choices to strengthen your business. Then, gather up your courage and take a risk. As the famous quote reads, "insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." Take a risk and do something different. Make that move that you’ve been thinking of, and perhaps if you’re lucky you’ll end up with 3 or 4 steps forward this time.

If there is anything that I can teach you about building a business it is that you will inevitably encounter failure again and again. It has happened that way for all of the biggest business leaders in the world, and you my friend will be no exception. And what will define you and your business is not how many times you have failed, but how many times you have gotten back up off the ground and pushed forward once more. 

As you don your courage and grow your business, take care to invest in high-quality accounting and bookkeeping services so that all of your efforts are rewarded with solid financial standing. If you don’t already have an accountant, contact us today for a free, no commitment consultation. Let’s work together to build your business.