HOW CAN GETTING YOUR FAMILY/BUSINESS PRIORITIES BALANCED ACTUALLY FAST TRACK YOUR BUSINESS GROWTH?

It all starts with you 

First of all, it’s about you as the leader of the business. Everything in your business reflects your approach and attitudes to business and to life, and if your life is out of balance and you’re unhappy personally or professionally, your business will suffer. 

From the very beginning, I was very clear that my business had to work for my family. I wanted to be an inspiration to my children, to show them that if they were brave enough to chase their dreams, they can come true. And even if you don’t get there, it’s better to have a go than live with the regret of not ever trying. 

To quote Theodore Roosevelt: 

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. 

I always had a true commitment to my role as a Dad. I was blessed to have a Dad and Mum who always believed in us, always encouraging us to have a go at our dreams. Even when you fell, it was about dusting yourself off, getting back on the horse and trying again. So, I felt it was my responsibility to walk the talk for my children. I started franchising when I was only 27 years of age, and I already had three kids. I would not have ‘shot for the stars’ without those little people in my life. 

Next, it is about the culture that grows around you 

A business that is there to support your family is also there to sup- port other families. We were in the service industry, and our franchisee support staff was over 80% women, the majority of whom had young families. 

Our boardroom would constantly turn into a ‘pop up’ childcare centre. If there was a sick child or a school holiday and there was no-one avail- able to care for their kids, the children would come to work. My own kids also frequently came to work with Dad. This was done without even thinking about it, and this attitude helped to build a very positive culture that created a family-friendly environment. 

Our home service providers were all self-employed franchisees. The greatest asset that any service provider is selling is their time. Our systems were designed to make their businesses as time efficient as possible. 

We coached our franchisees to build a business that valued both their work and their family time. If your franchisees or employees are reaching their goals for their families, they become even more motivated. 

How balancing family and business can fast track your business growth 

The outcome: more long-term, successful franchisees and employees, happily delivering high-quality service to even more regular clients. 

‘Like’ attracts ‘like’! 

In today’s employment market, it is vital for your business growth to attract employees who have similar core values to you. Good employees have options, and motivated employees are also struggling with the family and work balance. If your business is constantly demonstrating its understanding of that struggle, you will attract quality, motivated people who are also dedicated to the same values. 

Clarity lights the way for everybody 

If you know where you want your journey to end, the road will become clearer. 

One of the first questions I ask any business owner I have coached is, ‘What do you want your business to look like when it’s finished?’ 

When you build a new house, it’s a massive project. You hunt for the block of land, spend hours on the design, and consider each and every little thing – what you want or don’t want. The family’s current and future needs (and wants) are priorities. 

But, most people don’t bother to put the same level of focus on what their business will finally look like when it’s done. Once you take the time to get a handle on your whole business picture, everything becomes clearer. Your decision process is more effective. The clarity on what outcome you are planning to achieve – on all levels – gives you a default decision process, especially under pressure. 

This empowers you to develop the systems and frameworks that document the road for others in your business to follow. Your clarity on the direction of the business feeds confidence back to your team. 

One of the greatest challenges for the successfully growing business is knowing what opportunities to take and which to let go of. 

‘A man who chases two rabbits catches none.’ 

Roman Proverb 

Having clarity on which ‘rabbit’ you are chasing is the major influencer on where your business should invest money, energy, time, and resources. 

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If you truly get the family and business balance culture happening, it will become the biggest asset you have to motivate yourself and attract likeminded, motivated and highly skilled team members

Message me for a free copy of my best-selling book

Balance: How to Make your business and family life work together.

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