Obviously, a good business plan, adequate resources as well as the skills and abilities to get the job done are fundamental to business success.

The Business Owners Personal Growth Impacts The Growth & Development Of The Business

In the life of every business there will arrive a moment of truth when the entrepreneur either becomes the catalyst or stumbling block to continued business growth.

A business owner can easily become a liability when:

• the business has matured and grown to a point that everyone begins to become complacent, satisfied.
• the business owners are weary due to constant demands or financial pressure.
• the complexity of the business has grown beyond the ability of the entrepreneur to manage the entire operation out of his head.
• a lack of systems forces all employees to come back to the business owner to get answers or approval to perform basic tasks.

Something strange happens when a business begins to really excel. The entrepreneur and staff become satisfied which can easily lead to complacency. It is this complacency that can strike the death blow to the business - especially if it becomes a disease.

Do You Have The Disease?

Watch out for the warning signs.

• A strong need for control.
• All your employees and managers report to you for basic, day-to-day decisions.
• Feeling indecisive.
• You are less and less on the front lines and face to face with customers and suppliers.

If you feel like you are loosing your edge it could be due to a lack of personal growth. Your skills and abilities are either moving the business forward or else you are in the way. You may have become a stumbling block limiting the businesses ability to grow, shift and change to meet customer needs.

The personal growth of the entrepreneur was the reason the business started. Now that the business enjoys some success - the key to continued growth and development lies in the entrepreneurs ability to grow but differently this time.

In the beginning the reason the business began was because the entrepreneur recognized a need in the marketplace and filled it. Now the focus changes - the business owner must recognize the needs within the business itself, then fill that need.

What Is The Solution? Shift From survival Thinking To Possibility Thinking

It is my belief that the reason for most business success is that the owner is driven due to the need to survive, to make it. Sometimes making just enough money to make the rent or payroll. It is this hunger, a sense of desperation that keeps the entrepreneur sharp, focused and driving forward and in constant pursuit of improving and developing the business.

Now that the business sis growing and has a measure of success - it is time to shift your focus away from survival and begin to think of the possibilities. Think about what the business needs - to continue to grow and succeed. Depending on your background and skills you may need additional help. People with skills and experience you do not posses.

Work yourself out of the job. I said out of the job, not out of a job.

Part of the solution is systems and training. The other part is you, your attitude and willingness to continue to grow and develop as a business owner.

Work to put systems, processes in place to give your employees and managers more control. They will be thrilled to have the opportunity to perform and will grow in direct proportion to the amount you delegate.

• Train your employees and managers.
• Create a process to re-evaluate all systems, procedures and tools. Do this with your managers because then they will take ownership of the idea and champion it to all staff.

Then you will be freed up to do what you do best. Be the Entrepreneur!

Track and hunt for new opportunities, after all, it is what the entrepreneur does best!