Main Idea:
Do you have people or systems that just aren’t working anymore? Are there pieces in your life that are holding you back? Do we hang onto things too long? Why are rental buildings for storage space popping up everywhere?
Expansion of the Idea:
The other night I heard someone on the radio who did not have it. The broadcast sounded awful and was almost embarrassing. It was obvious that this person should have retired last year. Historically this person was very good but age, energy and life caught up with him. You see the same thing with professional athletes who stay one year too long. Instead of going out on top, our last memories of that athlete show the downside of aging. On the other hand, I recently have heard about a lot of people who if asked to go back to the office have decided that they are just going to retire. A lot of people have critical decisions now and their future hangs in the balance.
The same is true of ourselves and our businesses. There are a number of things that might need to be retired in our businesses. They include:
Ourselves
Someone on our team
Systems and Processes
Computers and Equipment
Customers
Vendors
Key Relationships, such as referral sources and professionals
Product and Service Offerings
Anything described by “That’s How We Do Things Here”
Covid 19 and the pandemic have completely altered the business environment. Chances are you have embraced increased use of technology over the past year. Two years ago, most people would not know what a zoom call is. Now, everyone from 6 to 80 has probably participated in at least one call. That changes everything. And not always for the better.
Now is a great time to reevaluate everything you are doing.
Do we need to stop going to our customers and just connect by Zoom?
Or do we retire Zoom and be more intentional about visiting our customers?
Are there team members who are not embracing new technology?
Have customers buying habits changed enough that some previous services or products are no longer desirable?
What systems or processes are no longer giving you the information that you need?
Have you lost touch with key referral sources and are having trouble reconnecting?
There is no end to possible questions or possible new paths. The key is to take some time and lay out your vision for the future. You need to decide your future and how you will achieve it. Henry Cloud writes in his book, “Necessary Endings”, the following:
“Your next step always depends on two ingredients: how well you are maximizing where you are right now and how ready you are to do what is necessary to get to the next place. And sometimes that depends on ending some of what is happening today.”
Questions to Consider:
Is there anything in my business that I need to end?
Is there anything in my personal life that I need to stop?
Are there ideas or processes that are holding us back?
Is there something that created your success but is now a liability?
Discuss this with your team and get their ideas.