Is Your Business in Flow?

When you first start a business you find that everything you do is exciting, because you are enthusiastic to make it work. You have a vision of what you want to create and the energy to make it happen. You are at that point focused on the possibilities but your vision is very open and expanded. You are ready to seize the moment and take both your business and life to the next level.

……… As time moves on you might have some set backs and take some knocks, this can make it feel harder to succeed and your enthusiasm can wane a little. You can start to put barriers in your way that you didn’t even think of before because you start to focus on the negatives more often.  In general everyday life isn’t as exciting as it was when you embarked on your dream. Your vision and enthusiasm begins to close down and you tend to just focus on achieving your targets and getting by.

Why?

In essence business is simple, but there is a tendency to think it is complicated.

“If you think something is hard it is hard and if you think something is easy it is easy” – John Whiteman

The reason I feel that people find business difficult is they focus purely on the destination and not the journey. They view simply the Revenue and not the Flow. When you create a goal driven company with targets there is a tendency to move from one target to another constantly pushing and striving. After the push for month end with the start of the following month there is often a lull in sales so a company moves from high to low accordingly.

The Enlightened Business is different; it looks at the bigger picture, it remains open to new directions and trends. Yes, it is important to set targets but it is more important to follow trends. When you follow a trend, sales volatility reduces and you begin to see a clearer picture.

To begin to understand whether you and your company are in Flow every Entrepreneur and Business Person needs to understand where we are in the Business Cycle.

“If you know where you are it is easier to know where you are going” – John Whiteman

So where are we at the moment in this business cycle?

Different sectors operate in different ways. Overall the economy could be in one place and your sector in another. To see where we are you need to begin to see this business cycle also in different time frames. For instance Business might be seasonal for you and you are on a high (point 3) and yet your sector might be at (point 1) but the economy at (point 5). To operate an Enlightened Business successfully moving with the Flow rather than pushing against it allows you to be in the right position so you don’t have to push.

Why is positioning so important? It stops you from being boxed in, it allows you to change direction and step up a gear when needed. Positioning is about putting yourself in the right Environment where business comes to you. It allows you to take advantage of the market trends for your business and you don’t miss the opportunities because you are ready to grow when you need to. It is intelligent thinking not just short-term profit lead. Its not chasing the moment as it takes you by surprise, you are creating the moments. You are geared up to be flexible and because you are looking always at the bigger picture, you are and not just in one direction.

There is a large difference between pushing and positioning. When you push you create resistance and when you position you put yourself into the Environment so that you are out there rather than waiting only for the opportunities to come to you. You have set your self up so that you will have a flow of opportunities that you have created. They will feel like they are flowing in with little effort because you have put yourself out there.

So where is the Economy in the Business Cycle at the moment?

Where is your sector?

Where is your Business?

Where is your Mind?

Are you pushing too hard, Are you gearing down when you need to gear up, Are you on a High or a Low? Dependent on where you are will give you the awareness of what action to take to enhance your life and your business.

“There is no point waiting at the bus stop if the buses aren’t running. It is far better to arrive when they are” – John Whiteman

For many Entrepreneurs your mind might be pushing to make things happen against the Flow. It is possible to go against the Flow but it is harder to do. Positioning is key to a sustainable business where you enjoy your journey and not simply lurch from destination to destination always wanting to be somewhere you are not.

Positioning creates medium-term growth, pushing creates hard fought short-term gains. A business begins to flow once you constantly position yourself and your company in the right environment, this way gains will start to flow from many directions and your will grow from many directions.

To learn more about the practical action you can take to position your business in the environment where you can create Flow you can follow my posts on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Pinterest or take part in one of my business talks and programs.