Comments on: Why stopping is sometimes the best way forward

By: Ali Davies

Ali Davies — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:11:33 +0000

Thanks for sharing that Paul. It is so true that stopping and taking stock clears the path to create momentum to move forward. Great to hear that you are moving forward again.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:44:57 +0000

Ali,

I can relate to this, my partner and I have recently had to stop and take stock of where we were upto with our business. Big brave decisions had to be made; thankful now we are moving forward again.

Great post and thank you for sharing.

Regards

Paul

By: Ali Davies

Ali Davies — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:21:27 +0000

Thanks Elaine. I think it is useful sometimes to share our personal experiences so that we can each learn from each other. As Business Owners working on our own I think it is also supportive to know that others often share the same challenges and we are not alone. You make a good point about how to weedle out the urgent tasks from the important ones as quite often it is the most “noisy” tasks that get our attention but they are often the least important.

By: Ali Davies

Ali Davies — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:16:00 +0000

Christine, I love your insights. I agree that it is vital as Business Owners to see protecting our health as a way of protecting our businesses. From your comments it sounds like we had similar corporate exerpiences!

By: Ali Davies

Ali Davies — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:13:22 +0000

Barney, they are great questions. Great that you can see a tangible result from asking them.

By: Elaine Rogers

Elaine Rogers — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:08:45 +0000

Thanks for sharing a personal experience Ali, and relating it to so many people here in Ireland, and abroad. The very first tip you give might bring some small business owners to an absolute halt!!! – as they realise they have no vision, or main goals. So I would add that it is imperative for a business owner to have their vision documented (Vision board, vision statement, business plan) and take it from there.
A great system I find beneficial to me is the Important / Urgent Matrix, to help wheedle out non-important tasks.
Work interfering with home life is an absolute no-no, and when business owners feel overwhelmed, that is the first sign to “STOP” as you say, and re-evaluate, just as Barney suggests
great post – thanks again

By: Christine Livingston

Christine Livingston — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:07:25 +0000

I had a “stop” experience myself last week, as you know, Ali, because of personal illness.

One of my top values is health and, whilst debating with myself whether I was going to push though my sickness or take time out I reminded myself of it. In fact, getting well became last week's business goal!

As a small business owner, whose business is built around my energy and presence, without health I have no business. Also, one of the reasons I left my corporate career was to create a different way of working and living for myself. Working on regardless is so corporate and macho – if we can't take time for the things that matter as self-employed people, what was the point of deciding to work for ourselves anyway?

By: barneyausten

barneyausten — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:46:37 +0000

Hi Ali. A very real post for me. Launching the business is involving having to work all the hours in the week. No problem doing this, but still things are getting missed. I handle it by simply asking myself “Can this wait? Or do you really need to do this at all?”. I'd say 20% of stuff that was swamping me is removed by answering these two questions honestly.