As the world of business evolves at rapid speed, it's not uncommon to find yourself feeling overwhelmed with eager competitors. The initial enthusiasm and determination chips away and it can become a challenge to re-motivate yourself, even more so when plagued with doubts on whether you or your business is good enough.
In the news recently, England cricketer Jonathan Trott announced his international retirement and stories such as 'I'm not good enough to play for England' made headlines. "This was a tough decision to make but I don't feel my game is at the level you need to be at to play for England," said Trott, as he called time on his career following an unsuccessful spell.
Whatever industry you're in, when running a business you can sometimes only rely on yourself for a reality check, depending on your internal guidance system to lead the way. It's therefore good practise to adopt a reflective and pro-active approach when reviewing your business, allowing you to feel and perform at your best.
Here are my top ten tips to keep you at the top of your game.
1. Stay Motivated. Raring to go is one of the most important aspects to remain at the top. When you're eager, you automatically have a drive to perform at your best. Ask yourself whether what you're doing is something you're enthusiastic about. Review your WHY to see if your vision is still something that resonates with you, if not consider re-aligning with your current objectives to reignite your passion.
2. Expand your skills and knowledge. Be aware of the current trends within your business; keep up to date with sales and marketing methods. Many business owners take it for granted that they need to invest in technology and systems within their business but they don't always take the time to upgrade and up-skill themselves. Attending seminars, reading relevant books and articles are all good ways to ensure you grow and evolve with your business.
3. Review any skills gaps. Make sure you've identified the correct resource(s) to support your business and then seek the person with the right talents, skills and attitude. This frees up your valuable time so that you can focus on tasks that develop and grow your business.
4. Find a mentor. A good mentor can help you avoid potential pitfalls and offer guidance and support. You are still responsible for the decisions you make but having a sounding board and someone who has knowledge and experience of your industry or business can be invaluable.
5. Embrace social media. Learn how to maximise the use of valuable online platforms such as Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. Build trust with your audience by engaging them and adding value, this also lets others know what you're doing and how well you're doing it. Keeping yourself visible allows others to appreciate your online efforts and share your successes.
6. Reach out to your community. Take time to strengthen your existing relationships by reaching out to your community. Are there any people you work with that you can volunteer your skills to or contribute in the form of sponsorship or donation to charitable initiatives? Staying in contact and extending your generosity allows you to maintain a trustworthy and loyal business network.
7. Network. Networking can be online or face-to-face. The important thing is.... not to sell too soon. Take time to build new relationships and gain trust. Be a good person to be around not someone who people want to avoid because of overzealous pitching. It's good to be proud of your product or service but take time to listen and learn what others have to offer and how what you do could work for them.
8. De-clutter your Mind. Maintaining a healthy habit of exercise, sleep and diet are all effective ways to gain more energy, free up your head space and rid you of emotional drains. Having a clear mindset puts you in a good momentum to tackle your priorities.
9. Maintain Focus. Develop the discipline to focus on important tasks and don't let unimportant things take you off track. Start your day with a job list and get things done. It's a good habit to do the things you like the least first and get them out of the way. Otherwise there is a danger that they keep getting moved to the next day's list.
10. Healthy Environment. Remain conscious of your environment. Your environment includes your surroundings as well as the people around you. When you're able to maintain a positive and energizing space this is reflective on your progress. Choose to be with people who support your growth and motivate you on your path to success.
Not feeling good enough is a fear that many human beings deal with, the key lays in training yourself to come back to the present moment and take the required action, in doing so you're reclaiming control and eradicating any doubts.