Business 101: The difference between working ‘in’ or ‘on’ your business
By ANDREW VAN HORN
Business Columnist
Editor’s Note: Willisburg-based business coach and consultant Andrew Van Horn will be writing columns for the Nelson County Gazette offering tips and strategies for business owners and entrepreneurs. Send your business questions to him by e-mail, andrewvanhorn@actioncoach.com or call (859) 940-5517.
Monday, Oct. 10, 2011 — Small business owners face many unique challenges in time management, sales, marketing, and time. This column offers advice, tips, and ideas on how businesses can overcome these challenges. By strengthening the businesses in our community it is my sincere hope that we will build a stronger and more vibrant local economy.
The topic of this weeks column is about how we spend our time.
As an owner it is imperative that we find time-wasters in our business. Time-wasters are the activities that occupy our time but do not provide any clear results or fruit.
The following question is simple and effective at determining whether how we use out time, “Am I working on my business or working in my business with this activity?”
Working in the business amounts to owning your job and not getting the guaranteed paycheck. You simply go to your business, fill your day with activity, and go home wondering what you accomplished.
Working on your business means you have a plan or a goal of what to get done for the day. You work towards that goal and at the end of the day you have gotten closer to achieving it.
Working on your business gets the business growing and moving towards the dreams you had when you started. Owners work on the business, employees work in the business. This idea of working on or in your business is key to determining if time is an asset or liability for you.
Entrepreneurs start businesses wanting to accomplish their dreams. Through the effective use of our time and energy the dreams we have come to fruition. Allow yourself the option of dreaming again.
Allow yourself to start working on your business as an owner and not an employee/owner. Let’s get ourselves back to dreaming big and accomplishing the big ideas we have.
- Andrew Van Horn of Willisburg is an member of ActionCOACH, the World’s No. 1 Business Coaching Firm.
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