Leaning your ladder on the wrong wall

There’s this really interesting business fable about waking up and realizing you are climbing your ladder on the wrong wall.?

I think this applies to more business owners than I can count, which breaks my heart, but I am hoping after I share this with you today, you can, if needed, adjust your ladder and not make the same misstep

So what is leaning your ladder against the wrong wall??

Well to me it is:

• Building a business that isn’t sustainable
• Focusing so much on your business that you forget to have a life and be with the ones who really matter?
• Forgetting why you started the business aka what is it providing you and your family
• Wrapping your whole identity and purpose into the business?

I call those the 4 horsemen of the business apocalypse … eventually one or all of them is going to come knocking on your door in the form of resentment, burnout, anger, or regret.?

None of those emotions are ones I want to have associated with your business.?

My goal with you reading this, and all my clients is simple: Let's build a business that truly reflects your goals, values, and passions - and do it in a way that brings you joy, fulfillment, and freedom ??

I know that might sound like a pipe dream but it really isn’t.? It just starts with the first C of my 7Cs to a high performing business and team… clarity.?

You would be surprised to know that of all the business owners in the world, about 80% of them have no exit plan or have not thought about what they might do outside their business.?

Sure, we would all love to sell our businesses for a great multiple, but then what?

That ….? Is where I LOVE to dig in with my clients.?

The white space of freedom.

See freedom doesn’t have to be selling or shutting down your business, it can be just having more white space in your day because you are working less, but to a lot of business owners white space create panic and feelings of not “doing enough.”?

I remember so clearly when I asked a client what he does when he sees white space on his calendar and he said “I go find X in the office and see what they are working on and make sure she’s doing things right. Y’all. I literally laughed out loud.??

For 2 reasons, first, this is a classic case of needing to be “busy” and second it was an employee that has been with him for 17 years!? Can you imagine how she feels when he comes over like this?!? WOOF!?

This is the perfect example of a business owner climbing the ladder on the wrong wall.?

He was focused on building a business, but inadvertently painted himself in the corner with a business that only ran with him.? If he stepped out, or, god forbid, had white space in his calendar, the wheels would completely fall off.?

This is the exact scenario I hate to see and work closely with my clients to dig them out of or even better, prevent.?

It isn’t just about building a successful business.? It is building one that doesn’t require YOU to run it.? Because here’s the sad fact, if the business needs you day to day to function and run, you don’t have a business, you have a job with tax write off benefits.

So ask yourself, what wall are you leaning your ladder on?? One that keeps you stuck in the trenches?? Or one that is getting you closer to true entrepreneurial freedom?

The good news is you can move your ladder at any time, so why not today?? Do some noodling and make sure your ladder is on the right wall.?

Until next time.?

Lauren?

P.s. if you are a business owner looking to get out from under your business and out of the weeds so you can say sayonara burnout, I would love to connect and support you.?

? My number one core value is FREEDOM ? I'm all about creating a business that can thrive without relying on you. I'm talking about a business that can run without you being there to babysit it, where you can take a worry-free vacation. I know, it sounds crazy, but trust me, it's the only way to have a business that's truly worthy of your time and energy.?

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I want you to own a business that’s a real asset (not a job you can write off) and I would be honored to support you through my business consulting and advising services including:????

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?? My signature Diagnostic Deep Dive framework, which helps business owners reclaim their time, create more freedom, and get back to doing what they love. I’ve consulted with Fortune 500 giants like Apple & Nike, but my favorite is working with small business owners like you, and trust me, this framework works.?

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?? My NEW Guild community, which I’m calling a ‘mini-mind’ - is a highly curated container of no more than 20 business owners who are all at the same stages of business and want to successfully get out from under their business and shift from operator to owner.??

Oh! And if you want more Golden Nuggets like this one, I got you. You’re going to love The Biz Doctor podcast, which is just a click away (available on all podcast platforms).

The Biz Doctor on Apple Podcasts

The Biz Doctor on Spotify

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