My Column

Business is a marathon not a sprint

  • Date: Monday 4th January 2010
column Picture

It's easy to announce a New Year's resolution but more often than not we let it slide by mid-January.

I'm just as guilty of ignoring my resolutions.

Every year I'm determined to work less and relax more and every year I fail.

But it's occurred to me that with the right planning, a New Year's resolution is a lot like starting a business.

An old standard is trying to get in shape for the New Year so why not organise it with a business head on?

The core ingredients of any project are the same: Planning, good time-management, getting the right personnel on board and finding a location where you feel comfortable to work hard and achieve your goals.

And, to coin an old phrase, it's a marathon not a sprint.

The gym is an investment - and any good entrepreneur needs to plan their investment.

Firstly, joining the gym doesn't need to cost the earth and it could be that membership isn't the best option for you - plenty of council-run gyms run classes without subscription.

There's no point in blowing your budget on a high-end gym for its prestigious name. Your gym needs to suit your budget, so shop around.

In the same way, don't unwisely invest in business premises when perhaps your new business could just as easily run out of your spare bedroom or from a friend's garage.

It makes sense to have a gym that motivates and inspires you and finding a location for your office is no different. The building needs to work for the needs of your new company.

Secondly, you're not going to be able to hit the gym intensively for a month and be in great shape for the rest of the year - it won't do your body much good if you burn out after a month.

So at the gym you should determine which muscles you want to work on, which bits of your body you think you can tone up and write out a regime to achieve long-lasting results.

In business there is no point in trying to appeal to everyone.

You'll waste time and resources so determine smaller areas where there is a need for development and focus your effort on them.

Don't be afraid to take your time. You'd rather spend more time getting it right than the other way round.

Remember flash-in-the-pan success isn't worth nearly as much as a solid foundation for a healthy business.

Thirdly, if you're nervous about joining a gym on your own then get a trusted friend with the same goals on board and plan your regime together.

You and your friend can lean on each other, keep each other going and share the experience.

For your business, perhaps two heads are better than one. If you and a friend have been discussing an idea without putting it into action then 2010 might be the year for you.

It can be daunting to go it alone so why not share the workload and responsibility and enjoy your new venture with a trusted partner.

Staying in shape - just like running a business - is all about momentum.

Once you get into your groove you'll wonder why you didn't do it years ago.

If you find a location to work out in, a colleague to train and learn with and a regime that motivates and suits you both, you'll build up stamina, muscles and momentum.

Before you know it you'll have a business in great shape.

So for 2010, plan ahead and equip yourself with the correct tools to succeed. Get support from good people, find a location that suits and manage your time.

You'll find that a New Year's resolution just has to be managed like any good business.

 

Related Content: 20 New Year Resolutions To Help Entrepreneurs Make Real Money In 2020

Back to column listings

Recent News

News Archive