Your routine is your frenemy. Let’s repeat this paradoxical reality again. Your daily routine is your frenemy. It’s an often unspoken, difficult truth. Something most of us either ignore or just never think about. Regardless, it is inescapable, because there are two sides to everything. And your daily routine is certainly no exception. What is supposed to be highly advantageous, can also unleash equal disadvantages. So, it’s time to look at this with a curious, open mind. Biggest Daily Routine Benefits Routines obviously have their benefits. Otherwise, we would not institute and follow them at all. For example, keeping you on time and task certainly is a huge advantage. By following a routine, you are much less likely to get distracted and you’ll complete priorities in order of importance. Additionally, a routine helps with the ebb and flow of life. Which is to say, uncomfortable or emergency situations. It’s a fundamental truth that sometimes the greatest barrier to your success is yourself. Not that you don’t try, aren’t talented, or don’t have the resources to succeed–you do. It’s just that a self-limiting mindset can creep into your worldview without you realizing it, keeping the achievement of your goals forever on an unreachable horizon. —Inc.com It’s common advice that when you’re in unfamiliar territory and feel overwhelmed, settle back into your routine. This helps you to relax and look at the bigger picture. Ultimately, it gives you the calming effect of being in control. Moreover, a routine lets you to chart your progress throughout the day. You feel a sense of accomplishment with each line item you cross off your list. 3 Ways Your Routine Sabotages Your Business Although routines are beneficial on one hand, on the other, they can be downright detrimental. We usually don’t see these disadvantages because routines offer a sense of continuity and comfort — to mindsets that can be counterproductive. Here are three unconscious mental blocks that your routines create and hold back your business: You feel satisfied. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of satisfaction. It puts your mind at ease and lets you put your brain on idle. And, that’s the very problem with the mind being satisfied — the satiation is an impediment to wanting and doing more. When you are satisfied, you stop and disengage. Done too often, this is a recipe for stagnation. You’re not as creative. Have you ever noticed those “eureka” moments are now few and far between, or worse yet, absent entirely? When you started your business, you did so with enthusiasm, drive, and purpose. But, you’ve come to a point where you’re not nearly creative as you were in the past. That’s because you’re just following a routine, which means your no longer freeing yourself to think outside of the box. You can’t envision a different future Sure, the future is always uncertain. However, there’s a difference between not knowing and not dreaming. If you hit enough of your goals, you’ll probably stop thinking about reaching new achievements and that is tantamount to not reimagining your possible future. After all, as time goes by, changes occur and the future might actually look completely different than it did before. What other ways do routines undermine your success? Please take a moment to share your thoughts and experiences. Your unique perspective just might help one or several people out! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

If you are part of a family business, and don’t have anyone related to pass it onto, you might consider a business succession plan as an option. Business secession is the process of transferring the company over to a new group of owners and/or operators. It could be anyone, from a competitor, to a family friend who’d like to take over the business. Regardless, it means turning over the reins to another person or party. So, it’s best to have a fundamental understanding of the process itself and its net effects. Business Succession Advantages Perhaps the biggest benefit of succession planning is knowing who will continue the business, particularly if you’re concerned about maintaining its good reputation. Additionally, it also motivates employees to do their best, because those with key roles who will run the company in the future will most definitely take their responsibilities seriously. If you were a business owner who was considering putting your company on the market but decided not to sell (or at least not anytime soon), what steps should be you taking now? The goals are to ensure preservation of the current business, as well as provide for an orderly and stable future transition when the proper time to sell arrives. —Kiplinger Yet another advantage of business secession is having peace of mind as to what happens to the company after you retire, or in the event you become disabled or die. (This is not only true for you as the current owner, but also, for your customers.) Plus, it helps to put in place processes that are known quantities, and therefore sets the successors up for a successful future. Business Succession Disadvantages Of course, there are drawbacks to everything, including business succession planning and eventual execution. Here are the three most common downsides of business succession you should know about: Turnover. Not everyone inside the business will receive a key role in the future. That can damage company morale once the plan is revealed to the company at-large. Moreover, it could cause good people to leave for other opportunities. No guarantees. Even if every single aspect is outlined and detailed, this does not guarantee the business will continue to be successful. After all, turning over the management means relinquishing leadership, which opens the possibility of failure. At the very least, a risk the business will suffer instead of flourish. Inappropriate strategy. Perhaps the most disconcerting thing about succession planning is the very real possibility of selecting the wrong people to run the company. Sure, the personnel chosen might well be top-notch producers and good with mentoring others, but might not be up to the challenge of actually running an established company. What else would you add to the pros and cons of business succession planning? Please take a moment to share your thoughts and experiences so others can benefit from your unique perspective! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.