One of the biggest challenges of running a business is getting perspective. You get so caught up in the day-to-day activities that you lose sight of things, such as:

• Why you started in the first place
• What really matters to you
• What you want to achieve

It is important that you find PERSPECTIVE, because it will give you the chance to step back and take a long, hard look at where you are and where you’re headed.

The Need For Perspective

Analyzing how far you’ve come and where you’ll go next in your business is essential to getting a perspective that supports your success. Today we’ll look at why and how to take time to gain a fresh perspective.

When a business is brand new, there’s excitement and motivation in seeing it take off. You love the hands-on involvement. The hours fly by and you’re highly motivated.

When you’ve been in the thick of it for a while, it’s easy to get so caught up in the day-to-day work of your business that you lose sight of what really matters. The most urgent needs get all the attention. Some of the fun tapers off. It’s difficult work. You begin to forget why you got into this business in the first place.

It’s important to step back and take a big-picture look at your business from time to time. What core principles and practices really matter to you and your employees? 

This isn’t a “once and done” practice. It is smart to stop and re-evaluate one or two times per year. Recalibrate and move forward with confidence. It could be that a small tweak is all that’s needed, or your business may be in need of a major overhaul. Success or failure in business is all about perspective.

In order to regain perspective, you need to briefly stop working IN your business and take a good look AT your business. 

Michael E. Gerber, a business expert, said

If your business depends on you, you don’t own a business – you have a job. And it’s the worst job in the world because you’re working for a lunatic!

Take Action:

Set aside a bit of time to answer the following clarifying questions:

1. Why did you start your business in the first place? What was your original vision?
2. Are you still fulfilling your original vision? If not, why not? What has changed?
3. Where do you want to be in 1 year? 5 years? 10 years?
4. Will you get there if you keep doing things the way you are now?
5. If you could snap your fingers and change some aspect of your business instantly, what would it be?

Avoid rushing through these questions. The answers you provide will help you begin to think clearly about what really matters to you in your business and whether you’re headed in the right direction.