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Running a business gets so demanding, that we often can'tsee the wood for the trees. We become preoccupied withensuring that everything in the business works the way itis supposed to. In other words, we spend most of our timeworking in the business.

The problem with this operational focus is that it is easyto lose sight of what could be done in the business to makeit run better. The business will only prosper in the longterm if you devote a lot of attention to improving how thebusiness works and increasing its capacity.

Spending a lot of time working on the business, makes itgrow in the long term. Business growth is sustainable andthings just keep on getting better. If necessary, get otherpeople to work in the business. Working on the businessshould be your top priority.

Failure to work on the business causes it to becometrapped. It is almost like the business gets stuck in abox. The business is unable to dynamically take advantageof opportunities. And it fails to adjust to a rapidlychangin g environment. Eventually, the business startslosing its competitive edge. A one way downhill tripbecomes almost inevitable.

Most businesses fail or under perform because businessowners spend too much time working in their businesses. Andnot enough time working on their businesses. The biggestfall out is during the first year. 29% of new businessesnever make it into their second year. And 65% of businessesclose their doors within the first 5 years.

Research shows that the biggest cause of business failureis the lack of a Strategic outlook. People who startbusinesses tend to be very focused on operational issues.The preoccupation with working in the businesses causes analmost exclusively Operational Focus.

The lack of a Strategic outlook means that little attentionis paid to laying the foundations that business success isbuilt on. Because Strategic Action is not taken in thebusiness, it stagnates. And gradual decline follows. Evenif you get through the first five years, you aren't homeand dry yet.

Many businesses that manage to get through the first fiveyears, also lack that all important strategic outlook. Forthem, a different set of problems arise. Initiatingstrategic outlook enables business techniques you will needto become successfully occupied for the foundation, whichis the first building blocks of any business.

By Abe Cherian

Copyright © 2006

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