Assuming you have no meetings with clients or potential clients tomorrow, could you just take the day off? Because that is what being a true business owner is all about. In other words does the business keep moving forward, and does it work smoothly without you.

Flexibility and freedom of choice are the two most often cited wishes when I ask business owners what they want out of life. Surprisingly perhaps it isn’t cars, boats, houses, holidays, jewellery or other material goods, it is the ability to no longer be tied to their business, and to be able to do what they want, when they want. Of course this involves having certain amounts of money to create freedom, but it also involves a team who can run the business efficiently and accurately without you.

Business owners often find the last step, i.e. getting away from their business almost the hardest part. It is like letting go of your child when they are learning to ride a bike, or sending them off on a long trip. They have to learn to stand on their own two feet which helps them grow and develop, and you as a business owner (or parent) have to let them go, so you can live your life. That feeling of no longer being needed is very hard to handle, and for business owners worrying that your staff think you are lazy and simply reaping the benefits of all their hard work.

But remember, you are the one who worked all those hours in the first place to provide a stable and lucrative job for them. So once you have a business and no longer a job, why not enjoy it?

One thing I find particularly annoying is when someone breaks a commitment to a meeting. If done far enough in advance because a genuine issue has arisen, or indeed from time to time when a crisis arises which need immediate attention, it is of course entirely acceptable. However when you get a message 2 or 3 days in advance of a meeting already in the diary that something else has come up, and can they reschedule, I believe it says a lot about the person you are meeting with, and perhaps more importantly, how much they value the meeting with you.

The same can apply to networking groups. If you join a networking group, you know when the meetings are throughout the year. However, in most groups a good proportion of people don’t turn up at each meeting because they make an alternative commitment, or because they can’t be bothered. Again what does this say about them, and how they value the group?

Now many people might say “So What?” These meetings are not vital, they often don’t bring income directly, and why not reschedule them. However, as stated above, I believe it shows a genuine lack of commitment overall, and therefore how can you be sure when working with them, that they will always do what they say they will. Trust is a vital part of any business relationship, so if people cancel or reschedule meetings just because it suits them better, or because they have a potentially better offer, then how can you be sure that they will provide what they say they will with their service or products.

Consistency and congruency is vital in all businesses. If you don’t do something because you consider it trifling or unimportant, what will stop you doing the same for big or vital issues: So think about the message you are giving next time you break a commitment, and then think again about doing so.

Are you going away on holiday this year? If not there may be any number of good reasons why not, but if you are a business owner, one reason which certainly is not good is because you are integral to the running of it. If that is the case, when was the last time you were able to get away?

One of the key aims for any business owner should be to create a business that can work without you. If it cannot then it is just a glorified job coupled with the added responsibility of running a team, ensuring profitability and planning the future strategy.

So how can you change this? The first thing is to write out an organisational structure. Very few business owners actually do this because when they start out they feel that the business is too small, and in any case they (or they and 1 or 2 others) are doing it all anyway. However, this is all part of planning ahead and building the business so others can be employed in the future, and responsibilities delegated. So draw up a structure with all the roles the business needs to run it when it has grown to the size you want it to be. Work out all the different daily, weekly and monthly tasks for each role, and systemise as much of this as you can (get the system written down in manuals). Then little by little employ the necessary staff to fill the roles you don’t need to be involved in, until the day to day running of the business is being done by your dedicated team.

Naturally enough, this cannot be done overnight. But if you are fed up with being the one making the decisions, and covering for all your staff, so even if you do get away on holiday this year you have to have your phone and computer constantly by your side, then why not make a resolution to change. Start the process now, and maybe by this time next year (or the year after) you can take a holiday, and come home refreshed and relaxed, knowing that all will be well, and the business will be flourishing without you.

Why do we ask for people’s opinions, when in our heart of hearts we know what we want in any case? The natural need to seek approval I suppose is the greatest reason for this, not wanting to be seen as different, or in some way over ambitious.

No doubt I have written about this subject before, but because it is potentially such an important aspect of limiting your personal and business growth, it is well worth re-visiting.

I recently met with someone who was in a one person business, looking to grow it, with great plans for the future. Over our discussion it was patently obvious that there were a number of areas of the business which needed to change, improve, and have more controls put in place. The business owner agreed that these were all necessary, and seemed very excited at the possibility of being able to make these changes with my help. However, there was one sticking point, and that was that this person wanted to go away and talk to others before committing to going forward.

In the end fear of taking the final jump in the dark, and/or having a fast growing business got the better of them, and instead of talking to people who had experienced great successes through the coaching programme, they decided to stick with advice from more cautious people, who presumably helped re-inforce their more negative beliefs and outlook.

I believe this happens a lot to many people. It is such a shame because for most of them they may never know what could have been, or what heights they could have achieved if they decided to take the less well trodden path. It is completely understandable to stick within the safety of the familiar (the comfort zone), but next time you are in two minds, sometimes it is good to go with your gut feeling, and don’t let others hold you back, just because it makes them feel more comfortable.