LadyLeader Retreat Blog

Who cares?

Are you hanging above a deep river by an almost invisible thread? 

Perhaps you've leapt off the solid ground of taking care of yourself well because you have a 'to do list' that is never-ending, family responsibilities, learning you want to focus on, no time to do a proper healthy shopping, no time to eat a proper healthy meal and the furthest walk you take is from the front door to the car? 

The person in the picture is leaping off safe ground too, with heart racing fear, increasing pulse, queasy tummy and a thought or too about how mad this is!

But for them it will all be over in 2 minutes - they won't live in that high response fearful state for most of their life!  

Are you hanging above a deep river by an almost invisible thread? Do you know why you're doing it?  Decide today to get back on the solid ground of self care - and if you're struggling to to it on your own, find someone who can help you.

Take the first step today, even if it's a tiny one...  Who cares?  You do.

Support systems for your business - and for you!

Growth is not possible without support!  So what is growth?  According to the dictionary it is the act or process of growing; development; gradual increase.

Whether its personal growth, professional growth or business growth, the speed and quality of growth are likely to be determined by the support structure. Without turning this into an English lesson, support is something which can bear the weight of, hold up, or serve as a foundation.

So what support systems are in place to support your business and give it a strong foundation?

Richard Branson in his book Screw it! Let's do it refers to the wisdom of knowing when you need help, and when you need to depend on the expertise of others.  The success of my business has been enhanced by various advisers (bank, accountant), my coach (challenging and stretching me) my life partner (supporting and encouraging) and various business colleagues, networks and writers.  Some of these have offered their support without charge - and others I have paid for as I have recognised the investment as a worthwhile return on investment.  Running your own business does not mean you have to do everything - it means you get to decide what you do and what you pay others to do!

A look at the water lily in the picture is a clear example of a successful system which blossoms over time.  As well as putting support in place by identifying the right peope, it is also important to put the business and personal systems in place to support business growth.  These include financial systems, time management systems, marketing systems, to name a few.  Good systems support the business and give you good information to make sound decisions.

So take time today to audit your business and personal support systems.  Give them an MOT and check they are fit for purpose, or go back to basics and work out what support systems you need to enhance the development of your small business.

And remember that in a small business you may well be an important part of the system - ensure you are supported adequately to protect the sustainability of your business success.

Tomorrow we'll be looking at marketing.