The most important word in the vocabulary of an entrepreneur is “no”
January 19, 2021 2021-01-19 15:42The most important word in the vocabulary of an entrepreneur is “no”
I know of quite a few entrepreneurs who ended 2020 and started 2021 in busy-mode, running after any opportunity thrown at them to make up for the very quiet half year that came before, trying to make up for lost revenue wherever possible….
The more different the opportunities you’re chasing after though, the higher the cost to deliver on your promises and the thinner not only your margins, but also your level of energy. Busyness can work for the short-term but is not a scalable strategy.
If you want to grow your business to scale, as an entrepreneur you have to make choices: which products to manufacture or services to offer (and which not), which customers to sell to (and whom not), which channels to use (and which not)…
SPARK OF THE DAY
It is tempting to think of busyness as growth, but busyness can also be a symptom of not having a clear strategy and not knowing when to say no. Busyness can become like quicksand: once you’re in, it’s very difficult to get out! With every opportunity you have to keep asking yourself: is the return worth spending the time, money and other resources on? Is this opportunity going to help me to achieve my big plan?
If not, don’t be afraid to answer with the n-word.
Saying no to a customer or opportunity can equally be a yes to your personal sanity and business growth!