Because going backwards down stairs might be great for working out, but it’s not great in your business.

Whatever goal you are trying to achieve, either personally or professionally, it will require you to make positive steps upward.

One of the things I’ve observed in business is that unless we implement a structured approach to locking down business improvements, it’s all too easy to take one step forward only to be knocked two steps back when we least expect it or when our attention is required elsewhere. Sound familiar? The real crux of the problem is sometimes it’s extremely hard to take those steps again.

It’s like rolling a heavy boulder up a staircase—you probably don’t do that a lot, but hopefully you get the analogy. You bust your gut getting the boulder half way up the stairs and then when you tire or you slip, without something to wedge the boulder in the place, it tumbles back down the stairs and more than likely further back than where you started.

Business is exactly the same. You bust your gut, day in, day out, only for the boulder to roll back down the stairs when you least expect it. Maybe the roof blew off your office. Maybe a valuable staff member left the team. Perhaps one of your “steps upward” was implemented and maintained by only one person, and that person moved to Kenya to pursue a career as a psychologist for Lions. With every step towards a better business you need to wedge that individual initiative firmly in place so it doesn’t budge.

The wedge quite simply is a system. How can you make sure that the positive change you’ve created is maintained, regardless of external influencers? Today, I want you think about change for the better that you’ve affected in your business, what could cause that step to be undone, and how you can protect and insure the effort that you put into that change.

Accountability is a crucial part of this equation, and the reason that our clients demonstrate far better success when it comes to maintaining their steps forward. If you choose to hold all the weight of making decision and maintaining procedures and outcomes in your business by yourself, you have far less chance of not “dropping the ball”. A business coach is a great resource for business owners to utilise for this purpose  (and you can count on them remaining focussed on your business – not on large depressed felines who’s sobs can be heard from another continent) , or perhaps you could consider a mentor, or someone else within your business to fill these shoes.

After all, there is nothing more frustrating than letting hard work go to waste!

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