Watch out for business Sand-traps

I started my first company many years ago; I was fresh, wide eyed and bushy tailed as they say. I researched the latest and greatest sources, tech, programs and was ready to hit the ground running with my skills and take over the world. As a new business owner I noticed other business owners had become complacent and set in their ways, they were stuck in the "Sand-trap". I can not tell you how many times I heard; "I have always done it this way" or "It works just fine so I am not changing it now". In life and business things change constantly; there is always learning to be done.

I talked about my learning curve with the implementation of the new iPad to my tech tools for work in my prior blog post and then it dawned on me; I was becoming one of those business owners. I should have been on top of this from the get go. I starting considering something my father always told me when I was a teen. "I spend money on tools; I spend money on things that make money or support my business." As a teen I can tell you it took many a conversation for this to sink in but that advice has stuck with me to this day.

Although I still swear by my software choices in my business maybe this weekend I finally realized I had started to fall into what I call the "Sand-trap". I was functioning as a business owner and turning a profit but losing ground in production speed. I made the mistake many of us make at some point in our careers; I was swinging, but the ball was stuck. When they launched I didn't purchase an iPad because I thought that it was a ridiculous amount of money to spend on a "tablet" that wasn't even a fully functioning production based PC. I had Google calendar with mobile access; but I didn't use it because I still liked the feel of my good old trusty spiral calendar.

I was bouncing around ideas on increasing production in my business and like being hit with a brick it dawned on me; I was regurgitating what I heard those other business owners say so long ago. When I first started, while I was fresh I would hear the comments and think  "That attitude is going to eventually put them out of business. Don't they know they need to understand the current market, their clients' demands, business needs and stay up to date? In business you can't become set in your ways".

Oh.....Wow! Many of us forget that while we are working comfortably in our "zone" all around us there are technological  improvements and marketing tools we should be learning to implement. Never forget there are those fresh minds and new entrepreneurs entering our market as competitors. We must consistently assess what improvements we can make to our business and what information we can learn to keep us in the forefront and true competitors in our fields.

The addition of the iPad will reduce my report writing by 1-1.5 hrs per report giving me more availability which of course means higher production and increased profitability. This single addition to my arsenal will allow me to reach out and schedule or confirm appointments on the run, hold masterminds from anywhere without lugging a laptop around, work on my book or freelance writing when and where the mood strikes. This is the end of my spiral calendar, clipboard, and bag of business goodies I have been caring around for years. I have filled many production needs with that one piece of equipment that will lighten my load in many respects.

Take a day, review how you can increase quality, production, and your marketing vs cost to do so. If you have been in business awhile I'm sure you will find some "Sand-traps" of your own. Invest your time and your money in ridding your own business "Sand-traps" or you will be left swinging in the dust by your competition. I'll look forward to seeing you on the greens.