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Local Business  » The Care and Feeding of Your Small Business

The Care and Feeding of Your Small Business

While I was hard at work last week, an everyday drama was

playing out in a hospital room in the next town. My niece was

working on presenting me with a new great nephew. Tyler James

came into the world Thursday afternoon, mother and child are

both doing well. Naturally, I am able to discern at this early

stage that the child is adorably cute, remarkably bright, and

very advanced for his age. Takes after his Great Aunt, I'm sure.

Now, watch how I turn this blessed, private family event into a

small business parable--hopefully the child didn't inherit my

one track mind.

Young Tyler received the pre-birth gifts of two pairs of baby

shoes. Then, he was born with big puppy feet. Already he has

outgrown at least one pair of his new shoes. By the end of the

week, I suspect the other pair will be much too snug as well.

Two things are sure with babies and small businesses, Growth

Happens and Change is Inevitable. Your infant soon becomes a

toddler who soon becomes an adolescent. Each stage of growth

brings different challenges and opportunities.

The key is to anticipate the growth before it happens and

prepare for the challenges before they develop. Tyler, like your

business, will grow. His needs will change and his parents will

need to change with him. Many of the challenges to be faced are

not anticipate-able. But many are.

When you start your business, your main concern is survival.

Often small businesses don't make it through the first year and

by year four many more have succumbed to the pressures and harsh

realities of the small business climate. It is classic

Darwinism--survival of the fittest at its most basic level.

Businesses that are well capitalized, well run, serving

flourishing markets, and executing a solid business plan have

the best chance of survival.

And then there is the rest of us. Struggling along, trying to

figure things out as we go. Anticipating the changes makes the

trip much easier, and makes for successful businesses. My own

business has taken just such a trip over the years. And yes, I

have many "if only's". If only I had done this then, how much

farther along my business would be. If only I hadn't handled

that situation like that, how much better my business would have

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run. Sometimes the "if only's" outweigh the successes.

Consider the stage your business is at. Is it a newborn needing

protection and nurturing? Is it struggling to stand on its own

feet? Is it rocked by rapid fire changes and needing a firm

foundation? What can you do to help your business through

whatever stage it is in? What can you do to prepare your

business for its next phase of life?

Your business and my nephew will go through predictable growth

stages. Business owners and parents each start out with the

wonder and excitement of new birth, struggle through the early

work-intensive years, seek balance during the intermediate

years, get tossed about by the turbulence of adolescence, and

someday, through the grace of God, are able to stand back and

say, "My work has paid me handsomely."

About the author:

Caroline Jordan, MBA helps self employed professionals build

successful businesses, attract clients they enjoy working with,

improve cash flow, and develop additional sources of revenue. To

find out how visit: http://www.TheJordanResult.com