There is a vast difference between being in business and begin busy.  In business it is focused directed and consistent action, where busy is constant motion with little beneficial result.  There is also the challenge for entrepreneurs to consider working in the business versus on the business.  While some work may seem like busy-work, the fact is when there is no one else to do it but the business owner and team of one, focus is required to segment on and in business.

How do you know if you are in business or busy?

Ask yourself the following questions:

1.  Am I overwhelmed being the only one in the business?

2.  Am I overwhelmed by the amount of incoming calls and mail, jumping to respond to them instead of staying focused?

3.  Do I procrastinate about things I don’t like or want to do?

4.  Am I self-sabotaging? Telling myself I am not good at things or my ideas are not god enough so that I won’t have an opportunity to fail?

5.  Am I stuck in a routine, used to doing things the same way all the time and not taking time to change things up, refresh?

6.  Am I reacting to what is happening in my business instead of driving my business?

With the responses to the questions, determine if there is an opportunity to change and grow. Understand what success looks like for the business each day.  Look at the impact each activity has on the business result that would indicate success for the day. Determine if there is a positive impact, moving towards the goals or if there is a distraction at hand that could derail the intended results.

 

Business versus busy can be a rut or a distraction.  Focused attention to planning and understanding the goals for success each day will create the difference and keep accountability at hand.