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Have you noticed how complicated everything is getting? The increase in technology and its promise of increased efficiency comes at a price. You buy a new piece of terrific software, but you run out of hard drive space trying to load it. Then you discover your computer memory is only 8MB and you need 16MB. You spend hours on a toll call to the software vendor trying to get help with the tangle of menus and options. Now a new piece of software means the old 486 has to be replaced with a Pentium II, and all you wanted was a new word processor to type that customer proposal and add some graphics!
If you've ever been through an experience like this you know it can really put you in a bad state. You are ready to tell anyone and everyone what a tough time you've had. You can't wait to tell someone how frustrated and angry you are at this software and the vendor-and you turn to any available ear. If your next human contact is with an important customer (there are no unimportant customers!), resist the temptation! Nothing will be accomplished that will help your business.
If you allow personal problems
to spill over to your business life,
it can doom you in a hurry.
Build a firewall between your emotions, your personal life and your business. If you don't, it will be costly.
FROM GLOOM TO DOOM
Often, problems are not so easily solved as by buying a new computer. Today, families split, kids do things we don't like, people get sick, cars get wrecked. Build your firewall thick and solid, and keep those events on one side and your business on the other side.
When my business was pretty new and growing I went through a divorce. At that exact time I was designing and negotiating what I still believe was one of the largest window coverings projects in my area. This project was very risky and very exciting. Had I brought any of my problems and considerable personal turmoil to the table I never would have closed that project. The job was completed successfully, provided national publicity and allowed me to purchase a proper vehicle and move my business to the next level.
If you allow personal problems to spill over to your business life and affect your attendance at work, attention to your clients and diligence on projects, it can doom you in a hurry. Few customers are likely to hire you or retain you if they sense you might threaten the success of their projects. Practice building your mental firewall and it will pay big benefits.
Separating business and personal issues frees you to concentrate on producing your income and then tackle the thorny issues of life in the '90s. If you find you are unable to continue working while dealing with some problem, you may be better off making a clean break by taking a leave of absence while you handle the issues and then give full attention to work as soon as you are able to return to full productivity.
Remember, everyone has problems to deal with. But indulging in them won't make problems go away. It just makes customers flee for the fire exit.
Steve Walton (SteveShade@aol.com) is owner of Shades Of The Future, Inc., (www.shadesofthefuture.com) Beaverton, OR.
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| DWC Magazine | Index to Articles | Back Issues
| August'99