Back to the ol’ drawing board!
I think it’s safe to say that “Life” is most certainly NOT “a box of chocolates”! All of us struggle through economic hard times that are more “local” if you will, though a lot of folk are struggling with the more detrimental nationwide economic downturn. I have a local economic hard time… This week, I have lost 3 clients…YUK!It’s my first “break-up” as I call it, and I am sure it won’t be my last. So for those of you having financial hardships and have had to let people in your company go…well, that’s understandable, you do as you must. My break-up seems to be over a break down in communication, at least that’s what I think, since those who have parted ways don’t seem to be letting on as to why a move was necessary. Sadly, I don’t think it has anything to do with finances or the economic downturn. That’ll slap a small business owner into shape, hey? SO, it’s back to the old drawing board to re-evaluate what I do and how I go about doing it. As one can only do when calamity strikes, right?
When you’re a small business owner, your company is HUGE and you aim for it to function as a well oiled machine, right? SURE…there’s only one problem, you ARE THE COMPANY! You are the President, the office manager, the bookkeeper, the CPA, the operations officer, the scheduler, the personal assistant, the board of directors, the geek, the janitor, the child-care, the courier, the consultant, the advertising agency, the field tech and the list goes on and on…not to mention you have to be the husband (or wife in some cases), which involves a HUGE amount of responsibilities anyway! WHEW!…it gets really tough when you think about it. I’d be lost without God controlling it all and on this earth, I would NOT be successful without my wife, for sure!
For those of you out there that have decided that it’s time to part ways, I can only say that with just a little bit of communication, issues very easily could have been avoided. Many of my clients know FULL WELL that if you don’t communicate with me, you’re likely to be upset about something at sometime. NO ONE can be happy with anyone all the time, I mean, I think my wife is the very best wife in the entire universe and I still have moments when I am unhappy with something she’s done ~ but where are we if we don’t communicate about it? Nowhere, is your answer. One sided moves that affect the other side are often passed off with a simple phrase~ here it is! There’s a common misconception in the business world that “it’s just business”. I HATE that phrase. It’s NEVER just business. That statement usually only rings true for one party, while the other side is usually left holding the bag of “not goods”, if you know what I mean. Communication in life, while taking consideration for the other side’s asperations and being a judge of the heart, is always the way to go. I am not saying that parting ways is never a good idea, but if both sides are honest about things, then a true seperation MAY BE the right plan of action….however, there are MANY times in life that there is a seperation of a relationship and it is all too often because someone failed to kindly share frustrations with the other side. I can’t change anyone, but I can change what I do. Always look in the mirror for the problem! TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AMERICA for your own downfalls and then make a change! It is the healthy choice that I have to make that will seperate me from a defeatest attitude and that of a winner! Brush the dust off and get right back up! Kudos to those of you out there that take the time to communicate, even when it seems like “just business”!