How To Stop Your Business from Unexpectedly Coming to a Halt

Do you know what the worst number in business is?

I will give you a hint. It isn’t 0.

It is the number 1.

Many business owners make this mistake. As have I during my business career.

It is unfortunately very enticing to make this mistake.

If you have only 1 pillar holding up any aspect of your business, then you are asking to be screwed over. You may not feel like that now, but this is fair warning that it can happen to anyone at any time.

I don’t want the rug to be pulled from beneath your feet as it has with me in the past. So, if you stick with me for the next couple of minutes, I will divulge with you how you can act to avoid the 1 pillar bringing the house down.

Worst Things to Have 1 of

Let’s start with some of the common 1’s that people have in their business and why they are the worst 1’s to have.

If you only have 1 method of getting people through the door (lead generation), what happens to your business if this dries up?

Lots of local businesses thrive off word of mouth. It is a great way for people to find out about your business. However, this can only get you so far and customers can only recommend so many people. What’s to say that the people they recommend to you are even good fits?

If this is how your business has operated and survived its entire lifespan you should have some alarm bells ringing of “what if?”

I was the same, constantly saying “it’s fine, I will get round to looking at other avenues eventually”. All the while not giving it the time of day until it was too late.

The other common downfall is only having 1 person who deals with a certain job role or holds all the passwords or controls all the money.

This is a 1-way ticket to being taken to the cleaners.

All it takes is for that person to be sick, go on an extended leave of absence, or God forbid die. Then what? We are human after all.

Worse still, some people cannot be solely trusted with that level of power and responsibility. It is almost too enticing having their hands in the cookie jar.

What if they go rogue and just leave or decide they will run to the hills with a competitor?

Act Now Before it is Too Late

The harsh reality is that these things are all our own fault as business owners. We are the head honcho, and it is down to us to make sure that we don’t end up in bad positions.

You need multiple ways to get people in the door.

You need to cross train people and make sure that certain knowledge and control is shared by different parties.

Otherwise, you are just asking for it.

Doesn’t matter how much you trust someone; you can never truly know what someone is thinking. Besides, it comes back to the old saying of “better to be safe than sorry”. More so than anything else, you want to make sure you keep your business and its interests (you and others working for you) safe.

If you have 1 of ANYTHING. This should now be priority number 1 to change.

It should be the main thing that occupies the space between your ears. “How can I change this 1 into a 2?”

Of course, you are going to have to deal with some short-term hassle, potential kick back from employees, and even having to hire some other people to assist.

I can assure you though, this won’t be wasted energy. You would much rather deal with this hassle now, then the shit storm that could occur if one of your 1’s magically becomes a 0.

I can almost guarantee you that the thing you never expected to break. The one thing that shouldn’t, couldn’t and wouldn’t break. Will break. That is just part and parcel of running a business – expect the unexpected.

When it does break you are left with your hands on your head, ‘wondering’, why everything has come to a screeching halt.

What Can You Do?

In an effort to not be too Mr. Doomsday about all this, there is still time.

Your business is still in running.

There isn’t bad luck or the universe having something against you and your business.

That assumes most things are out of your control. When in fact the opposite is true. Most things are in your control. It is your business after all.

So, take control of it before it takes control of you.

Consider the following question:

“What is the worst thing that could happen?”

I am not saying to be a negative nelly and think “what if World War 3 starts” or “what if my entire staff walks out”.

I am talking about the small cracks that are in your armour. They don’t seem like much, nevertheless if a dagger can slip through and ‘kill’ you (your business) then what good is all that armour?

The first rule is don’t die.

Don’t let your business die from 1 thing.

That is why the number 1 is the worst number in business.

It doesn’t matter how big or small your business, you need to take an extensive look at where all the single pillars are and add to them.

If you are looking for ways to increase the number of pillars for your businesses lead generation and/or day-to-day operations and systems:

Get in touch for a FREE marketing audit today!