Small Business Revolution

4Concentric Circles

IN THE PREVIOUS chapters, we have been able to do a substantial amount of deep thinking about your business. We covered a basic set of key numbers to get us off the roadkill level and up to that 100-foot level of perspective. Then we looked at some of the realities and decisions that face business owners, and how to navigate them.

Now we're going to continue the important discussion of your business, and we'll do that by figuratively drawing concentric circles starting with you, the driver of your business enterprise, and going out to everyone else who's involved in it.

We will look at many aspects of your business in order to see what works, what does not work, and even what does not exist.

It's important to go into this with the right frame of mind. The wrong one would be: Wow, that was depressing! Here I wanted to get some cheerleading and to feel better about my business, and what I've come away with is this long list of things to focus on. Ugh.

I want to introduce you to a concept that I'll occasionally use in this book; it's called the “grown-up moment.” You really do have to have the tough skin of a grown-up to be a business owner. Some business owners feel a little bit lonely at times, flying solo in this whole matter of running and growing a business. Maybe you also feel that way. If only you had a coach who's been where you are now and who could give you advice that you could trust.

No book can quite match having a live, experienced business coach ...