What are you feeding your business?

This week I want to share insights from the recent spotlight session I ran for Sharon Gaskin?? and her Trainer Talk Community titled "How to Have a Flourishing Business: It Starts with You." During the session, I invited participants to think about their business like the human body—a living, breathing entity that requires balance and care for optimal health.

Just like our bodies need food and water, our businesses need resources to thrive. I asked participants to consider what fuels their businesses. Here are some examples:

• Money
• Technology
• People
• Knowledge

Achieving the right balance of these elements is essential for the overall health and wellbeing of your business.

To take the analogy further, we can think of our businesses as a complex system with different "organs" playing crucial roles:

• Processes (Brain and Nervous System): These are the systems and workflows that coordinate and control business operations. Just as the brain directs bodily functions, efficient processes ensure everything runs smoothly.
• Technology (Stomach): Technology can be seen as the stomach of our business. Much like how we often think with our stomachs and associate emotions with food, technology choices can evoke strong feelings—think shiny object syndrome and the pressure to adopt the latest tools. Technology also digests and processes information, making it crucial for day-to-day operations.
• People (Heart and Lifeblood): The heart of our business is the people—us, our team, and our customers. Without them, our business wouldn’t survive.

Each of these components can significantly impact the wellbeing of our business, leading to head, stomach, or heartaches if not taken care of properly. Problems in any of these areas can 'silently kill' our business, but that’s a topic for another time ??

For now, let’s focus on the heart of our businesses—the people. Their wellbeing directly influences the health of our business. Here are a few reflections and actions to consider:

1. Employee Wellbeing: Ensure that your team, whether employed or freelance, feels valued, supported, and engaged. Their satisfaction and productivity are vital to your business’s success.
2. Customer Wellbeing: Foster genuine connections with your customers. Understand their needs and exceed their expectations to build loyalty and trust.
3. Your Wellbeing: As a business owner, your wellbeing is crucial. Prioritise self-care and set boundaries to avoid burnout. Remember, a healthy you means a healthy business.

As you think about your business, consider these questions:

• What resources are fueling your business, and are they in the right balance?
• How well are your business processes functioning? Are there areas that need improvement?
• Is your technology enhancing your business, or is it causing unnecessary 'tummy aches'?
• How are you nurturing your relationships with your team and customers?
• Are you taking care of your own wellbeing as a business owner?

By reflecting on these questions and taking actionable steps, you can ensure that your business is not just surviving but flourishing.

Stay tuned for more insights on creating a thriving business. Remember, it all starts with you!