Is there a specific reason why many small business owners work hard, but still struggle or fail?
The other day, a friend of mine, Henry (not his real name) asked me that question after another long week of work with almost nothing to show for his labour.
And I replied, “Well, that’s kind of like asking if anyone with feet can dance. Being a business owner and CEO is a different way of thinking and doing things.”
But, he just gave me a look, like my answer wasn’t what he wanted to hear.
Henry is an auto mechanic and he runs his own auto repair shop.
So, I asked him, “What do you do at your shop every day?
Henry: Well, I make sure customers are happy.
Me: Nope. Your business makes them happy.
Not you.
I mean what do you work on all day at your shop?
Henry: Umm, I do the big repairs and at the same time, supervise my boys on other the repairs.
Me: Is that all?
Henry: Yep.
Me: So, you mean you work on cars all day?
You don’t strategize or plan or manage anything?
Henry: Pfft. And why would I do that?
When I could be doing real work?
Me: Real work?
No wonder many technicians like you, who start their own business struggle every time.
Henry: Ok. Tell me. What do you suggest I work on?
“being a good driver doesn’t make you a good mechanic”
Me: I’ll tell you in a minute.
But first, answer me this simple question.
Aside yourself, who else work on cars in your shop?
Do you let all your apprentices do repairs or work on cars?
Henry: Of course, not.
I only let the senior apprentices work on cars while I supervise them.
Me: But why don’t you also let the junior apprentices?
Henry: Bro?
Do you want me to lose my business?
I can’t let someone who doesn’t know how cars work to repair a car.
Me: What about, if that person already knows how to drive a car – really well?
Henry: Yeah. Especially that.
Just because you can drive a car, doesn’t mean you also have the skills to fix it.
Being a good driver doesn’t make you a good mechanic.
They are two different things
Me: That makes sense.
Henry: There are a lot of systems within a car, that make it work.
So, you can’t just wake up one day and starting working cars.
You first need to understand all of it and how to make it work.
“a lie and a very dangerous one”
Me: Well, Congratulations.
You’ve just stated the first and main reason why many small business owners struggle and fail.
Henry: Mm? How?
Me: You see, many people believe that if you’re really good at (let’s say) tailoring, that also means that you’re also good at the business side of tailoring.
Henry: Yeah.
Me: But that’s a lie and a very dangerous one.
Much like what you yourself said before.
Being able to do something really well, doesn’t necessarily mean you’re also good at the other parts of it.
They are two different things.
Henry: Correct.
Me: And, the real danger of this simple lie, is that, it makes it really hard for many small business owners to understand their role and what to work on.
Henry: That one little lie?
Me: Yep. That one little lie does a lot of damage.
First off, it makes people think that their business is only about the tailoring or repairing or event planning or hairstyling or whatever their business is about.
Henry: Ok.
Me: With that, it becomes hard for them to focus on the business side, let alone, work on the things that’ll make their business:
- work,
- grow
- and succeed.
“your role as a business owner”
Henry: Ok.
So, you mean like in my case, it’s not just about working on cars?
Me: 100%!
Look, you can work on cars, if you want to.
But, as a business owner, your business doesn’t only need you to be a mechanic – or a technician.
It also needs you to be an entrepreneur and a manager.
And your role is to understand how to be all of those three things at the same time.
Henry: How?
Me: Well first thing first.
It needs the entrepreneur in you, to have a vision, always looking into the future, innovating, coming up with ideas, solutions and bring in strategies that’ll make the business survive and keep it growing.
Henry: Oh, Ok.
Me: It also needs the manager in you, to do the planning and figure out how to put those strategies into action and achieve your goals.
It needs the manager to also make sure there’s leadership, culture, control and order that makes the business run smoothly even without you around.
Henry: Ok.
Me: And then, it needs the technician to get the job done.
Like doing big repairs and supervising the boys.
To make sure the entrepreneur’s and manager’s work becomes a reality.
Henry: Oh, I see.
It’s like the entrepreneur and the manager set the stage for the technician to do what he does best.
Me: Exactly!
They make your business more efficient, effective, sustainable and profitable.
“the real work for a business owner”
Henry: I see.
So, it doesn’t matter even if I’m the best mechanic in town.
I could still end up with a struggling or failed business, if I don’t also work on those two things.
Me: Again, 100%.
Every part of your role is equally important.
But, you’ll definitely struggle and fail, if you don’t focus on the work that actually makes your business, a business.
Henry: Of course.
Me: Your role as a business owner is to work on your business.
To work on the things that will turn your business into something that’s able to:
- run itself
- make you money
- and grow into what you want.
So, your job is definitely not to work on cars every day in your own shop like an employee.
Because you’re not.
Henry: That’s really true.
Those two things (the entrepreneur and manager side) are really that big and important, huh?
Me: Yes, they are.
And they are what we call smart work.
They are the real work for a business owner and what you should be working on every day.
Henry: It seems so.
Me: I know you’re a proud hard-worker.
Which is great.
But your small business needs you in more ways than one.
It also needs you to be dreaming, thinking, strategizing, planning and getting things done – while you work on cars.
Henry: Definitely, bro.
Me: Well, now you know.
Henry: Yeah.
But, knowing my role doesn’t mean I have the skills to properly perform it.
Me: You’re right.
And that’s why it’s vital to always ask for help as a business owner.
Because there’ll always be something that you don’t know how to do, that require skills you don’t have.
Henry: But I bet many of owners don’t do that.
I know my people.
We don’t like to admit we don’t know something – let alone, seek help from someone who does know.
I guess that’s another reason many small owners struggle and fail.
Me: True.
Many of us are proud and cocky.
Henry: That’s even worse than not knowing your role.
Me: Exactly!
Small To Sprout 