How to Grow Your Business by Taking 3 Months Off - A Pipe Dream? Or a Reality?

By William De Ora

It is all about a mindset shift, backed up by a risk management process. If you think systems alone will provide you with freedom, then think again.

When a business owner understands the philosophy of how to take 3 months off from their business, the task will appear easier than what it sounds - just like learning to ride a bicycle – initially, this is a confronting and challenging task until you attain the distinction called ‘balance’.

A business is no more than, people, processes and technology all working together in a structured and organised manner. Everything within a business falls into one of these categories.
And, they are held together by that organisation’s leadership.

Neither process nor technology can operate a business without people. And, as Jim Collins said in his ground breaking bestseller Good to Great, “get the right people on the bus, and in the right seats, then have the right managers to lead”.

So, how do you take three months off? Step 1 - You: As the owner of the business you need to make the decision that you want to change the way you run your business. This will become your non-negotiable reason for changing the way you do business. In order for the business to grow, you need to get out of your own way – move beyond being the control freak and identify the champions that are on your team and delegate to them.

Step 2 – Your Business: You’ll need to engage your team in this goal as well as select a manager that will run the business in your absence. It is also vital that you conduct a risk assessment – identify what is in place and working well and what isn’t. Take stock of what it is you do on a day-to-day basis and to whom you could delegate these activities to.

Step 3 – Your Future: Start to ask yourself the tough questions about your future – Where are you going? What does the future of your business look like? No matter how long you’ve been in business, if you did take three months off, what would you want to do when you came back? – Hopefully not business as usual!!

Why do this?The real question that needs to be asked is ‘why not’ do this? The true benefits of this journey are that you will not only be in a position to recharge your own batteries - you will also recharge and re-inspire your business’ batteries.

Whilst most business owners feel they are unstoppable, there is a limit to what we can all do year after year without stopping for a reality check. Perhaps it’s time to set yourself the challenge to look at how you could have a business that is not dependent upon you and reap these rewards. The time to change your reality is now.

www.take3months.com