Business Success Lessons from the Back to School Routine

Well, it’s that time of year again. The Back to School malarkey is upon us.

Whether you are a parent who is well organised and has everything ready well in advance, or are running round at the last minute like a headless chicken, for all of us our aim is the same:

To make sure our kids have everything they need for their school life.

Things such as new shoes, the correct school uniform, books, writing stuff, hair cut, nutritious stuff for their lunch box, getting them back into a bedtime routine after the late nights of the summer holidays, homework routine – the list goes on.

If you think about why we do this, it because we are setting them up to succeed. Giving them what they need to do the job of being a school kid as well as they can.

But how many of us do this for ourselves with our businesses?

What I mean is how many of us at any point throughout the year, stop and check we have set ourselves up to succeed?

For example:

• Are we getting enough sleep to maximise our effectiveness?
• Are we eating nutritious food that really fuels our minds and bodies?
• Are we getting enough exercise to boost our energy levels?
• Do we have the correct equipment to do the job the best we can and make us more effective?
• Do we have the right teachers/mentors to help us achieve our goals?
• Are we focussing on the right subjects to achieve our goals?
• Is there a timetable or schedule to manage time effectively?

The point is this:

If you don’t set yourself up to succeed then you won’t. Leaving it to chance or luck is not a good strategy to achieve success.

So here’s what I would like to suggest:

Whilst you are getting the kids ready to return to school, apply the same mindset to you and your business. Review if you have set yourself up properly to succeed.

Include categories such as:

• Equipment – pens, stationery, technology, uncluttered office, an effective timetable.
• Teachers – who is your support team to help you achieve your goals? Think mentors, coaches, consultants, networking clubs, mastermind groups, business buddies.
• Self care – sleep, healthy eating, exercise, meditation, down time.

Once you have brainstormed this create an action plan and start putting it in place. If you struggle to motivate yourself with stuff like this, buddy up with someone else and become accountability and support partners.

This is a great time of year for taking our own performance up a notch or two. So, what will you do to set yourself up to succeed?