How Come Running A Small Business Can Feel Like Groundhog Day?

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In This Episode

If we had to pick a movie to be the theme for a small business owner, it would likely be the 1993 classic Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell.  Even if you’ve never seen the movie you can probably relate to what it feels like to have the same day over and over again.  Unfortunately for too many small business owners this can be the case.  So what’s a small business owner to do?

During the show today we shared some Groundhog Day experiences we’ve encountered in running our own businesses as well as coaching hundreds more through their Groundhog Days.  There’s nothing wrong with having what seems to be the same day over and over as long as you’re learning.  Think about all the skills Phil (Bill Murray’s) character picked up while he was experiencing the same day over and over again.  Maybe you feel like he did when he was wishing to relive what was a better day in his mind which involved lots of sun, sand, and the love of a beautiful woman.  Phil’s motivation was to make himself a better man to with the heart of Rita (Andie MacDowell).  What’s your motivation to get better in your business?

What kind of day would you choose to have over and over again in your business?  Why not make those really good days happen on purpose?  Here are some things to do to help you avoid having that Groundhog Day feel in your business:

  • Celebrate: this might sound silly but it’s important to stop and celebrate once in a while. Especially when your business has a big event like a big sale or someone returning to the business or a record month/quarter/year.  If you don’t stop to look around and celebrate, you’ll likely feel like the same day is happening over and over.
  • Schedule It: we are big fans of regular meetings. This includes everything from daily touches to weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual get togethers.  Part of what these meetings accomplish, in addition to getting a good rhythm in the business, is to break things up a bit.  To give your team a chance to pull their heads up even if it’s only for 5 minutes or 5 hours.  These “breaks” in the routine are key to help get rid of those Groundhog Day feelings.
  • Plan It: as many of you long time listeners know we are big fans of plans. Perhaps the most important one is the Profit Plan which shows how your business will make money this year.  It’s key to not only have this plan in place but to review your progress against this plan on a regular basis (i.e. at least monthly).
  • Do Something Different: try changing up your routine once in a while. It could be something as simple as trying a different route to work or doing something different first thing in the morning.  Maybe change up the physical space of your office or plant to give things a different feel.

So if you’re feeling like you’re starring in your own version of the Groundhog Day movie, don’t worry you’re not alone.  Hopefully our show today can help you get out of that loop!

People, Companies and Resources We Mentioned in the Show

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