Why Family Vacation And Starting A Small Business Are Practically The Same

The smell of gas has always made me happy and here’s why I’m not kidding… 

When I was 30-years-old I learned why the smell of gas always created a smile. Well, one reason was obvious and the second reason surprised me. It hit me that when I was a kiddo I loved, LOVED, doing road trips with my parents and siblings. The smell of gas was what I smelled every time I jumped out of the car to get a treat from the gas station. It always was exciting! Family vacations were awesome as a youngster and the smell of gas triggers those memories.

Now, as a father of 4, family vacation is still exciting for me, well the first day or two is a blast. Then what happens come day 2 and 3? 

1. Forget why we were doing this.
2. Drifted away from our original plans in attempt to survive. 
3. Become frustrated with each other.
4. Are unclear how to keep everyone happy. 
5. Struggling to restructure the plan so there is a good outcome. 

Somehow, we usually end up getting through it and create great memories. Admittedly, there are times where we have almost turned around and ended the family trip.

The question remains… Why do we keep going during these times? Its really simple...we find clarity amongst the chaos and enjoy the good moments. 

These experiences with family vacations remind me of being a business owner. 

Since I was 23, I started my own businesses and have since coached many other business owners…. and I kind of think the process of family vacation is much like starting and growing a business. Kid you not!

Here’s what happens… 

1. It’s easy to forget WHY you are doing what you are.
2. Business changes and your perfect plans are 50% obsolete. 
3. You get frustrated with your team and customers. 
4. With all the variables, margins, and personalities it becomes difficult to keep employees and customers happy. 
5. It’s hard to take a step back, recalibrate and adapt. Everything feels on top of you. 

Hang with me for a second…. there is good news here! 

When starting a business you can learn alot and be prepared for the task. It all sounds blissful planning to start a business, but once you are in the trenches you need tools to help you see the full picture. So, whether you are thinking to start a business or are already running a business, consider the following tips and enjoy the trip:

• Determine WHY you want to see success in your company? Sure, the money aspect is wonderful, but what is the purpose and vision of your company? I’m not referring to that cheesy mission statement that is created and never looked at again. Rather, I’m talking about what really is driving your business. For example, I coach others because I want to help people be seen and heard so they feel empowered. This drives my business and when the going gets hellish… I can easily remember WHY I’m in the trenches. 
• Don’t just rely on meetings with others on your team. Meet with YOURSELF on a weekly basis. At the beginning of every week you want to meet with yourself. Ask what you learned and enjoyed from the previous week. Then look at your goals for the next week, month, and 90 days and ADAPT your plans. Commit to your plans for the week. 
• LISTEN! When you are running your business its easy to start thinking about what you need and stop thinking about what others need. One of the greatest things you can do as an owner is always be listening. Take the pressure off of yourself of needing to know what exactly you should be saying. When you listen, problem solving becomes easier. 
• Recalibration is key to anything that functions well, be it humans, machines, or teams. Part of planning with yourself each week gives you a chance to take a step back, breathe, and get things back on track. The more you’re able to get yourself out of the daily grind the more you’re able to think broad and enlist the visionary inside of you. After all, it’s the visionary part of you that wanted to start the business. 

Now that I’ve sat down to compose this… maybe family vacation is nothing like leading a small business, but I think you get the picture! Stay with it! 

All the best, 

Drew