Chapter 28
Staying in Balance
Succeeding in small business is a delicate balancing act. Leverage is all about balance. So is the concept of quantity and quality. Time and money. And freedom. As we saw in Chapters 21 and 25, the secret of acquiring and maintaining proper balance is to first find the correct perspective on the situation.
This brief chapter is yet another perspective to help you recognise aspects of your business that need to be kept in careful balance.
In this illustration, the island is your business destination. It’s the Island of $uccess. It’s where the rewards are. It’s where you’ll enjoy all the free time you want and all the money you need to do whatever you choose with that time.
But, as we saw in the section on Business Planning, business is a voyage, not a destination. And small business is a voyage in a row boat, not a luxury liner.To get to your destination, you have to pull evenly on both oars, or you’ll end up going round and round in circles, no nearer to your destination, no matter how hard you row.
The oars represent all the aspects of your business that need to be kept in balance.
The following table is a suggested list of pairs of “oars” to keep in balance in your small business. Add more as you think of them.
Your Business Oars
Quantity Quality Productivity Profitability Time Money Predictability Desirability Attitude Ability Why How Lever Fulcrum Marketing Innovation Working IN your business Working ON your business Relationships Results Needs Wants
Taken from
“Don’t Go Into Small Business
Until You Read This Book!”
by John Counsel
Small Business Books 1996
© 1996, 1997 by John Counsel
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