Equal Opportunity Crossings

Sometimes we come across a fact that is just so weird that it is worth sharing. We in South Africa have always been taught about Zebra Crossings. Those white stripes that people walk across the road on made famous by the Beetles album cover of Abbey road. Never did I ever consider all the other animals out there who have become upset that their names were not been used to denote a traffic signal. So due to adverse pressure from the animals, in particular the bird section there is now a number of other crossings available:

The Pelican Crossing

The Puffin Crossing

The Toucan Crossing

The Pegasus Crossing

I kid you not; if it is Wikipedia it is true.

Just make sure it is not your life crossing before you without you knowing.

Keeping an eye on your business

To help survive in these tough times as business owners need to keep our eyes fixed on the prize: The prize being staying in business. I see so many people wavering from the basics and loosing the plot to just wake up too late and find that they have run out of cash flow and energy before the end of the month.

To keep your eye on the business requires a daily checklist of simple yet critical activities:

1. Am I still doing what I need to do to fulfill my life purpose?
2. Is my business still doing what it needs to do to support my core purpose?
3. Is my organizational structure set up to support the business strategy?
4. Is my management structure set up to support my organizational strategy?
5. Is my staff structure set up to support my management strategy?
6. Is my marketing structure set up to support my staff strategy?
7. Is my systems structure set up to support my marketing strategy?

Seven simple checks to revisit on a regular basis to keep you and your business on the right track.

Change in Direction

Each day we are faced with various cross roads and off ramps waiting to divert us from our first predetermined route through life. The decision to take the left or right turn will often depend on what we see on the signpost just before the intersection.

We are so easily tempted by signs that guarantee us fame, fortune and pleasure that will take us off track into uncharted dangerous territory. We need to have some sort of mission and strategy statement for our businesses and lives that we can measure our decision against before we put our indicator on and veer off into the new lane. Having your values set and openly discussed enables us to assess and measure our performance against giving us a compass to guide us.

Another direction change often comes through a huge event or tragedy that may occur in our lives. Recent clients of ours have experienced personal events that will redefine them for many years to come. Once again we need to assess where we are at and use these opportunities to give us new direction and purpose. Do not let the world divert you away from your preplanned purpose but if huge events occur, stop and look for any new direction that may exist that was previously hidden.

Any direction change should be thought about and planned to maintain momentum and purpose.

Cubicle Nation

Pamela Slim wrote a book titled Escape from cubicle Nation that records the dreams and wishes of many Americans trapped in the corporate word living each day with a hope to one day escape from their cubicle and into the world of self employment.

Many South Africans find themselves in the same situation, going each day to a job they dislike, doing tasks that bring little or no joy and waiting for Friday and Payday just to get by. How sad is this, how depressing it must be to live your life for time away from your job.

Finding a way to break out and begin to live our lives fully as we were designed to be, using all our skills, talents and passions each day to add value to others could be your normal day at the office. It is for me and those we work with at the Entrepreneur Incubator.

A recent assessment of the utilization of my strengths revealed that on any given day I am operating in 98% of my strengths. That equates to only 2% of tasks I do are not energizing myself. This means that I am able to give more of myself and energy to my work and customers without having to waste personal resources on survival-mode or covering my back because I may mess up and be caught out.

Self-Employment is not all roses and money, we do have our bad days; but a bad day working for yourself is still better than a good day in a cubicle…

Monday Brain teaser

So we wake up on Monday and we leap out of bed because it is another work day filled with business oppotunities, fun and challenges. This is what you have waited for all weekend. But have you ever stopped to consider the following:

Who Are You? - we can unpack this for ages and it makes an interesting sentance if we begin to play with the three words and change the question. Consider the other alternative questions or statements;

Who you are!

You are who?

Are you who?

You who are!

To discover who you are is life's greatest treasure, to live out this purpose is life's greatest pleasure. Enjoy your Monday.

Entrepreneur Incubator Finds a New Home

Our website has finally moved into a new domain location.

Please everybody welcome www.EI.co.za

Drop by for a visit, read a bit browse around and leave your name – good to have you visit. This is a small part in a huge marketing drive that peaks towards the end of August when we will have a stand at the small business week expo to display what we and our members do for a living and show of our unfair advantage in the small business market.