If you start or buy a business, it’s virtually certain that something significant is going to go wrong almost immediately. You’ll have a personnel issue, an IT glitch, a fussy major customer -- some sort of major hassle. As you go on, you might find more systemic issues. There’s a large segment of your customer base that isn’t being serviced properly, or your office location is too small, or you’re having trouble hiring qualified staff. Something is bound to be a source of frustration for you.
Going in, you had a plan. As you get going, you’ll want to check in with your plan and make sure that you’re on the right track. Make adjustments to your plan is needed. And after you’ve done the work, trust your plan and your process.
Well, just as we discussed last week, there’s no perfect business. It wasn’t perfect before you started it, and it’s not going to be perfect after you take it over. There’s always something more that could be done; there’s always room for improvement, change, and innovation. There’s always something to keep you up at night, if you let it.
If you focus on these things, you will go stark, raving mad. You can’t do it. It will kill your ability to do the good things, and it will probably drive your family up a wall from stress. This isn’t helpful at all.
Going in, you had a plan. As you get going, you’ll want to check in with your plan and make sure that you’re on the right track. Make adjustments to your plan is needed. And after you’ve done the work, trust your plan and your process. Every successful business has things they think they can be doing better, but the point isn’t to fix everything.
Just as we thought back in the beginning of this whole process -- a business isn’t successful because it has no weaknesses; it’s successful because it has a few -- or maybe even only one -- radical, overwhelming strength. You have to play to the strength and keep making it stronger. Some of the things you don’t do so well just needed to be patched over. If they are shored up enough that they won’t sink you, then just let them be. Being worried about the issues saps the energy you need to continue making true positive change in the areas that really drive your profit and value.
Panicking hasn’t ever helped anyone do anything. Even when there are issues, stay calm and do your thing. You’ll thank yourself later.