Taking Care of Business: Take small steps if you want to see the big picture

Ruth Schwartz is the author of Taking Care of Business, a column published by the Nevada City Advocate.

If you do not attend to necessary business then it becomes the bank or the IRS enforcing deadlines and creating consequences. See what I mean about unpleasant?

But he admits that being told what to do by an authority figure is not the manner in which most of us chose to be held accountable. It is just not pleasant. As business owners you have no “boss” so your only authority is you.

If you do not attend to necessary business then it becomes the bank or the IRS enforcing deadlines and creating consequences. See what I mean about unpleasant?

It is a conundrum that reached a fevered pitch in the last few months while I was listening to owners of local businesses talk about their failure to achieve the big-picture commitments they made.

Any of these sound familiar?

 “How much time and effort will it really take to accomplish my commitments and how will I be held accountable?”

“I didn’t do what I said I’d do because I am too busy.”

“I have the same issue month after month after month regardless of a commitment I made to change it.”

“There just doesn’t seem to be a stiff enough consequence for not keeping my commitments.”

“Since I’m not going to actually keep my commitments, I think I’ll just quit making them.”

What really happens when we don’t keep our commitments?

We are embarrassed, feel guilt and, in some cases, are ashamed. It is the avoidance of these negative emotions that most agree should prompt us to follow through.

Conversely, it is a sense of accomplishment, satisfaction and pride that motivates us. Like a growing savings account or a shrinking waistline, all it takes is a pain elevated or a task accomplished to remind us that this is true.

Here are the simplest of ways in which to be on the winning side of this curve. These suggestions brought to you courtesy of the same local business owners who brought you the previous complaints:
1) Stop multi-tasking: If you want to accomplish a task, focus on it. Even if you don’t finish it in one sitting, set your timer or go as far as you can and then stop. That means getting rid of distractions like e-mail, phone or the tweet deck. The quickest way to accomplish nothing is to do 10 things at once.
2) Better to finish one thing then start 10: You may not notice that you actually are accomplishing tasks and moving ahead because you are busy adding up all the tasks you started but didn’t complete.
3) Break your tasks down into bite-sized pieces: If the task is too big you may feel overwhelmed and simply avoid it. It is easier to complete a small task than a giant task. Think: Goals> strategies >action steps>tactics.

Dan Ariely came to the conclusion that blending a self-imposed commitment with the help of others is the perfect combination. Like AA and Weight Watchers (and, yes, The Alternative Board) we need others to help us along. The best suggestion for business owners is to help and inspire each other to focus on the big picture.

 Ruth Schwartz is a certified business coach and peer advisory facilitator with the Alternative Board (TAB). If you have a question for Ruth, call 530-288-0180 or visit highperformanceadvocates.com.