Shawangunk Journal Articles by Laura Finestone
The following articles appeared in the Shawangunk Journal. - Thursday, July 29, 2010 - Your Business
GETTING YOUR BUSINESS BACK ON TRACK
Times are hard, and many small business people are struggling to keep their heads above water, much less thrive. But it can be done! First you must become aware that you are merely treading water and the role you play in that. Then, you need to decide that it is time to come up with innovative ideas and new strategies that will keep you afloat and eventually sailing ahead.
To get from awareness to action, resolving unfinished business is the most powerful action you can take. Unfinished business is the old junk in your mental attic that is keeping you stuck in the past and preventing you from moving forward in your life, business, or career. It often seems easier to carry unfinished business around with you than to complete it, but as the following story illustrates, that can be costly.
The Man in the Basement
Patty owned a small advertising agency. She had hit a slump in her business, wasn’t meeting her business or personal goals, and had lost the enthusiasm she was used to feeling. She was just about ready to give up
At our first meeting, we took a personal and business inventory of her perceived roadblocks, recurring problems, and unfinished projects. Once the inventory was complete I asked her what she had observed while making this list.
“Quite a bit about work, but not too much personal stuff, except there is this one small issue. My former boyfriend moved back in temporarily, after his last relationship didn’t work out.”
“Oh,” I said. “How long ago did he move back in?”
“About six months ago.”
“And how long was he supposed to stay?”
“Not more than a month…but it isn’t too big a deal. He is quiet and he doesn’t bother me. I mean, I do want him to leave and I ask him all the time when he is going to, but it’s OK for now.”
Patty had let Nick, her old boyfriend, live in her spare room in the basement for a number of months while he tried to get back on his feet after a few setbacks. But now she was having a hard time making him leave.
Whenever she asked him to move out, Nick would promise to move as soon as he was able and had handled one thing or another.
Clearly, she didn’t think this was a very big deal. In fact, to her, it was just one of the issues on her list. But I had a feeling this was one of those little things that she needed to pay big attention to.
Meanwhile, a number of other things weren’t going very well in Patty’s life. Her business was slow, and although she’d make calls to prospective clients, she wasn’t receiving any call-backs. She felt a general sense of powerlessness and she was tired of doing the same thing over and over again and not making any headway.
Week after week during our sessions, we’d discuss the same issues. When I’d ask about the man in the basement, she’d shake her head and say, “He’s still down there.”
Then one day she promised me that this time, she really would have him leave. The next time I saw her, there was a major change. Patty was upbeat, excited, and motivated. Her business was beginning to thrive—and she was beginning to achieve her goals in all areas of her life.
“Wow, what happened to you?” I asked.
“Nick left!” she replied. “I finally made a commitment and took action. I gave him a deadline, brought boxes, took them to the curb and told him his time was up.”
Patty realized that right after she took that initiative, things began to turn around. What had seemed like a small annoyance held the key to breaking her out of a mental and emotional logjam. As long as she was allowing her old boyfriend to stay in her basement, she was losing respect for herself and had a feeling of powerlessness. After she completed this seemingly small piece of unfinished business, she began to open up a new chapter for herself and for her business: discovering newfound power, clarity, and the motivation to take actions that were producing the results she wanted.
What does this story have to do with you and your business? First, it’s about the unfinished business that kept Patty from moving forward. It is difficult to get going and make well-chosen plans for your future until you see-- and deal with-- the things in your past that are holding you back from realizing your future. I know—you probably don’t have a man living in your basement. So, how do you find what’s causing the logjam in yourbusiness?
Start by taking your own personal and business inventory:
What are some of the recurring problems, breakdowns, and complaints that you or your employees have? For example:
Use the above questions to trigger a more complete list. Once you have things out of your head and on paper, you can begin to deal, one item at a time. Start taking action on the things that you know must be done and stay tuned for more in my next column.
Local author Laura Finestone is president of Via Associates, a career and business coaching firm based in Ulster County. Her Vision In Action Programs are based on nearly 30 years of experience as a business coach and workshop leader.
Send your questions to Laura@viaassociates.com
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You and Your Business Breaking the Logjam
Last time, this column discussed taking inventory of your unfinished business as one way to get out of a professional slump (please visit www. viaassociates.com if you missed it). The next step is learning to prioritize.
Slumped in his chair, Morgan looked at me and sighed. “Okay, I finally did my inventory, but now I’m feeling even more overwhelmed --the tasks in front of me seem insurmountable!” As we talked, it became obvious that one of the reasons was that he had no system in place to help him deliberate, prioritize, and then take action on his to-do list. Instead, he found himself reacting to whatever came his way.
Morgan was having problems managing his large beauty salon. Always worried about money (and who isn’t these days?), after completing his inventory he was able to admit that he was having a hard time dealing with his finances. Not surprisingly, his biggest area of unfinished business was that he had never completed the process of setting up a bookkeeping system. He would cross his fingers every time he wrote a check because he had no idea how much money he had in the bank (and was too afraid to find out).
This, in turn, clouded his thinking and ability to focus on which actions to take first. My advice was that he commit to categorizing his challenges and prioritizing reasonable action steps using the following process that you can use for yourself.
Getting Ready to Take Action
First, make some time to review your inventory. For each item, ask yourself, “Am I willing, and do I know how, to get this done?” Your answer should fall into one of the following action-step categories:
1. Yes, I am willing and able to get this done.
Once you make this decision, pick a date by which you intend to finish this item. Just a caution: Don’t say you are going to finish every one of these by next Friday. You’ll be setting yourself up for more stress. Spread the dates out by choosing the most crucial ones to get done first (I’ll come back to that in a minute). You may very well finish some by Friday; others may take a few months.
2. Yes, I am willing to complete this, but I don’t know how, OR I need to do some research before I commit.
For example, you may have been toying with the idea of moving your office, but haven’t done a cost/benefit analysis, much less started looking for a space, both necessary before you commit to moving. Fix a date by which you’ll do the research or bring in assistance if you think you need help.
3. This item is complete in my mind, and I am ready to let go of it.
Let’s say you have a project you got halfway through and now realize you do not want to or even really need to finish it. Meaning, you have done all you can do. If so, it is time to cross it off your list. Eliminating fruitless goals and projects is not a sign of failure but of realism. It is very freeing emotionally, and will open up time and energy for more important tasks!
4. No, I am unwilling to complete this.
Sometimes, you just have to say no. You may believe you need to get something done, or at least thought that you might, but can honestly say you never will. An example might be writing a plan for a new spinoff business and then realizing your heart’s not in it. (Just make sure you’re not confusing this option with the second one—not knowing how to do it.)
5. Parking lot.
This is something that you are unsure about making a commitment to but also don’t want to cross off your list entirely, such as a potential project or creative new ideas for your business. It truly might not be the right time to get to work on these items, but you probably will address them eventually. Place them in the Parking Lot category, to be revisited in three or four months. Only include items about which you are unsure in terms of appropriateness, timing, or commitment—not things you want to postpone.
As you can see by its very nature, categorizing your inventory list helps you to eliminate or postpone all but the most urgent, doable tasks, which will likely fall under the first or second category. Everything else can wait (as long as you do, in fact, plan to complete it). If you’re still having trouble prioritizing, consider the task’s or goal’s level of urgency (The store is flooded! You’ve run out of inventory!). Also consider the relative benefit of completing the task (or the down side of not completing it).
A Single Step Sets Everything Else in Motion
Now, back to Morgan. As we worked through his list, he decided that the best use of his time and money would be to hire a bookkeeper to help him get his records, budgeting, and cash-flow systems set up and then to confront the reality of his financial situation. (After all, if you don’t have control of your company’s money, it’s nearly impossible to plan for all the other aspects of your business!) Several weeks later, when the system was in place, Morgan was able to figure out his monthly expenses, which in turn allowed him to see what he needed to earn in order to keep his salon in the black and even make it profitable. With this newfound clarity and focus, he and his business began to thrive, showing a substantial profit within six months.
Once you decide what’s most important and take the steps to address it, so many other things are also set in motion. Priorities become increasingly clear in both the day-to-day running of your business and in your long-term strategy. And best of all, you will be able to begin to relax and enjoy your life outside of the office.
Laura Finestone is president of Via Associates, a career and business coaching firm based in Ulster County. Her Vision In Action Programs are based on nearly 30 years of experience as a business coach and acclaimed workshop leader. Address your questions to Laura@viaassociates.com
back to top
The following articles appeared in the Shawangunk Journal. - Thursday, July 29, 2010 - Your Business
GETTING YOUR BUSINESS BACK ON TRACK
Times are hard, and many small business people are struggling to keep their heads above water, much less thrive. But it can be done! First you must become aware that you are merely treading water and the role you play in that. Then, you need to decide that it is time to come up with innovative ideas and new strategies that will keep you afloat and eventually sailing ahead.
To get from awareness to action, resolving unfinished business is the most powerful action you can take. Unfinished business is the old junk in your mental attic that is keeping you stuck in the past and preventing you from moving forward in your life, business, or career. It often seems easier to carry unfinished business around with you than to complete it, but as the following story illustrates, that can be costly.
The Man in the Basement
Patty owned a small advertising agency. She had hit a slump in her business, wasn’t meeting her business or personal goals, and had lost the enthusiasm she was used to feeling. She was just about ready to give up
At our first meeting, we took a personal and business inventory of her perceived roadblocks, recurring problems, and unfinished projects. Once the inventory was complete I asked her what she had observed while making this list.
“Quite a bit about work, but not too much personal stuff, except there is this one small issue. My former boyfriend moved back in temporarily, after his last relationship didn’t work out.”
“Oh,” I said. “How long ago did he move back in?”
“About six months ago.”
“And how long was he supposed to stay?”
“Not more than a month…but it isn’t too big a deal. He is quiet and he doesn’t bother me. I mean, I do want him to leave and I ask him all the time when he is going to, but it’s OK for now.”
Patty had let Nick, her old boyfriend, live in her spare room in the basement for a number of months while he tried to get back on his feet after a few setbacks. But now she was having a hard time making him leave.
Whenever she asked him to move out, Nick would promise to move as soon as he was able and had handled one thing or another.
Clearly, she didn’t think this was a very big deal. In fact, to her, it was just one of the issues on her list. But I had a feeling this was one of those little things that she needed to pay big attention to.
Meanwhile, a number of other things weren’t going very well in Patty’s life. Her business was slow, and although she’d make calls to prospective clients, she wasn’t receiving any call-backs. She felt a general sense of powerlessness and she was tired of doing the same thing over and over again and not making any headway.
Week after week during our sessions, we’d discuss the same issues. When I’d ask about the man in the basement, she’d shake her head and say, “He’s still down there.”
Then one day she promised me that this time, she really would have him leave. The next time I saw her, there was a major change. Patty was upbeat, excited, and motivated. Her business was beginning to thrive—and she was beginning to achieve her goals in all areas of her life.
“Wow, what happened to you?” I asked.
“Nick left!” she replied. “I finally made a commitment and took action. I gave him a deadline, brought boxes, took them to the curb and told him his time was up.”
Patty realized that right after she took that initiative, things began to turn around. What had seemed like a small annoyance held the key to breaking her out of a mental and emotional logjam. As long as she was allowing her old boyfriend to stay in her basement, she was losing respect for herself and had a feeling of powerlessness. After she completed this seemingly small piece of unfinished business, she began to open up a new chapter for herself and for her business: discovering newfound power, clarity, and the motivation to take actions that were producing the results she wanted.
What does this story have to do with you and your business? First, it’s about the unfinished business that kept Patty from moving forward. It is difficult to get going and make well-chosen plans for your future until you see-- and deal with-- the things in your past that are holding you back from realizing your future. I know—you probably don’t have a man living in your basement. So, how do you find what’s causing the logjam in yourbusiness?
Start by taking your own personal and business inventory:
What are some of the recurring problems, breakdowns, and complaints that you or your employees have? For example:
- not enough time in the day to get everything done
- difficulty prioritizing
- employees don’t follow through or don’t come in on time you and your staff are not thriving
- What do you know you need to do, but have not done?
- What are you doing that you shouldn’t be doing?
- What past mistakes, disappointments and failures are you holding on to?
- What is the same old story that keeps on happening over and over again?
- Is your financial and business information up-to-date?
- Do you have a purpose or mission for your business? Is it aligned with your values?
- Do you have a vision for your business?
- Have you created a long-term plan to realize your vision? If so, are you following it or updating it on a regular basis?
Use the above questions to trigger a more complete list. Once you have things out of your head and on paper, you can begin to deal, one item at a time. Start taking action on the things that you know must be done and stay tuned for more in my next column.
Local author Laura Finestone is president of Via Associates, a career and business coaching firm based in Ulster County. Her Vision In Action Programs are based on nearly 30 years of experience as a business coach and workshop leader.
Send your questions to Laura@viaassociates.com
back to top
You and Your Business Breaking the Logjam
Last time, this column discussed taking inventory of your unfinished business as one way to get out of a professional slump (please visit www. viaassociates.com if you missed it). The next step is learning to prioritize.
Slumped in his chair, Morgan looked at me and sighed. “Okay, I finally did my inventory, but now I’m feeling even more overwhelmed --the tasks in front of me seem insurmountable!” As we talked, it became obvious that one of the reasons was that he had no system in place to help him deliberate, prioritize, and then take action on his to-do list. Instead, he found himself reacting to whatever came his way.
Morgan was having problems managing his large beauty salon. Always worried about money (and who isn’t these days?), after completing his inventory he was able to admit that he was having a hard time dealing with his finances. Not surprisingly, his biggest area of unfinished business was that he had never completed the process of setting up a bookkeeping system. He would cross his fingers every time he wrote a check because he had no idea how much money he had in the bank (and was too afraid to find out).
This, in turn, clouded his thinking and ability to focus on which actions to take first. My advice was that he commit to categorizing his challenges and prioritizing reasonable action steps using the following process that you can use for yourself.
Getting Ready to Take Action
First, make some time to review your inventory. For each item, ask yourself, “Am I willing, and do I know how, to get this done?” Your answer should fall into one of the following action-step categories:
1. Yes, I am willing and able to get this done.
Once you make this decision, pick a date by which you intend to finish this item. Just a caution: Don’t say you are going to finish every one of these by next Friday. You’ll be setting yourself up for more stress. Spread the dates out by choosing the most crucial ones to get done first (I’ll come back to that in a minute). You may very well finish some by Friday; others may take a few months.
2. Yes, I am willing to complete this, but I don’t know how, OR I need to do some research before I commit.
For example, you may have been toying with the idea of moving your office, but haven’t done a cost/benefit analysis, much less started looking for a space, both necessary before you commit to moving. Fix a date by which you’ll do the research or bring in assistance if you think you need help.
3. This item is complete in my mind, and I am ready to let go of it.
Let’s say you have a project you got halfway through and now realize you do not want to or even really need to finish it. Meaning, you have done all you can do. If so, it is time to cross it off your list. Eliminating fruitless goals and projects is not a sign of failure but of realism. It is very freeing emotionally, and will open up time and energy for more important tasks!
4. No, I am unwilling to complete this.
Sometimes, you just have to say no. You may believe you need to get something done, or at least thought that you might, but can honestly say you never will. An example might be writing a plan for a new spinoff business and then realizing your heart’s not in it. (Just make sure you’re not confusing this option with the second one—not knowing how to do it.)
5. Parking lot.
This is something that you are unsure about making a commitment to but also don’t want to cross off your list entirely, such as a potential project or creative new ideas for your business. It truly might not be the right time to get to work on these items, but you probably will address them eventually. Place them in the Parking Lot category, to be revisited in three or four months. Only include items about which you are unsure in terms of appropriateness, timing, or commitment—not things you want to postpone.
As you can see by its very nature, categorizing your inventory list helps you to eliminate or postpone all but the most urgent, doable tasks, which will likely fall under the first or second category. Everything else can wait (as long as you do, in fact, plan to complete it). If you’re still having trouble prioritizing, consider the task’s or goal’s level of urgency (The store is flooded! You’ve run out of inventory!). Also consider the relative benefit of completing the task (or the down side of not completing it).
A Single Step Sets Everything Else in Motion
Now, back to Morgan. As we worked through his list, he decided that the best use of his time and money would be to hire a bookkeeper to help him get his records, budgeting, and cash-flow systems set up and then to confront the reality of his financial situation. (After all, if you don’t have control of your company’s money, it’s nearly impossible to plan for all the other aspects of your business!) Several weeks later, when the system was in place, Morgan was able to figure out his monthly expenses, which in turn allowed him to see what he needed to earn in order to keep his salon in the black and even make it profitable. With this newfound clarity and focus, he and his business began to thrive, showing a substantial profit within six months.
Once you decide what’s most important and take the steps to address it, so many other things are also set in motion. Priorities become increasingly clear in both the day-to-day running of your business and in your long-term strategy. And best of all, you will be able to begin to relax and enjoy your life outside of the office.
Laura Finestone is president of Via Associates, a career and business coaching firm based in Ulster County. Her Vision In Action Programs are based on nearly 30 years of experience as a business coach and acclaimed workshop leader. Address your questions to Laura@viaassociates.com
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