Greater Reading Chamber Commerce Quarterly Fall 2017 - 28

small business matters

Finishing
Strong

Steve Goble, The Goble Group

ejoice, fellow small business owners, we're three quarters
through 2017, a year filled with lots of distractions, road
blocks, and many uncertainties in the economic environment. Whether you're a micro business running the show yourself, a
small team of a dozen or less, or a team on the cusp of growth, you
are part of a small biz that is the backbone of the economic engine
that drives our community, our region, and our country.
As such, it's important to focus on finishing 2017 strong, while
simultaneously putting yourself in the best position for a solid 2018
launch. Here are five actions that have been helpful to me over the
past few years as a micro business owner with a desire to finish
strong.

REFLECT: Look back at what you've accomplished in the first
3Qs. Take note of the wins and losses, and look back at where you
might've dropped the ball. And believe me, we all drop the ball
sometimes because we're human. What have you learned from the
wins and losses? What additional opportunities have come from the
wins? Look at where you dropped the ball, pick it back up if it still
represents a viable business opportunity, and figure out why it was
dropped so it doesn't happen again. Making the same mistake more
than once is too costly for you and your business.

INVEST: If you have a good accountant, and you NEED a good
accountant, they're probably advising you on how to minimize
your tax burden at the end of the year by spending money now on
items you need in the future. I want to challenge you to think of
items that go beyond your specific business needs (tools, equipment,
supplies, etc.) and look in the mirror. The best investment you can
ever make is on yourself... by gaining more knowledge. They say
that 'Leaders Are Readers', and if you're leading a small business,
I hope you're reading to learn about the successes and failures of
others, especially within your industry. And if you're not willing to
bet on yourself, why should anybody else?
Direct Action: Get a new business or leadership book -
physical, digital, or audio, it doesn't matter - read the book, and
then act on one of the ideas you just learned about before the end
of the year.

CELEBRATE: Every day you make progress is a win. Some
days progress will be greater than others, but we need to celebrate
the small wins because they lead to big wins. And make sure you
celebrate with the people on your team and in your life who have
helped you get where you are today. There are no such people as
"self-made" anything, especially in business, so make sure you bring
Direct Action: Decide if you need to delegate more or say 'NO' them along for the celebration.
Direct Action: Pick a date within the next 90 days to celebrate
to things that don't bring as much value to your business. You
your 2017 wins and what you learned. Make sure you're not
can't be everything to everybody; stop trying.
celebrating alone.

28 COMMERCE QUARTERLY FALL 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Greater Reading Chamber Commerce Quarterly Fall 2017