This is all about you. You’re unique. Your business is unique. The way you should run your business should be unique…

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Transcript of video:

My name is Nick Leighton and for the next few minutes you are exactly where you want to be.

This is originally recorded August 11, 2020 for Facebook Live - uncut and uncensored .

This is all about you.

You’re unique. Your business is unique. The way you should run your business should be unique.

Two weeks ago, I talked about the changing environment and how business owners and entrepreneurs have either been forced, or have had the opportunity, to find a different life balance.

We seem to be working hard, and it can get exhausting - all that pivoting to stay ahead of COVID-19 and of course - if you have a team - sporting them as much as necessary.

But we also have less wasted time - less wasted time on travel and at large events etc.

Last week, I looked at McKinsey & Company’s recent study that showed that business leaders are being more intentional. There is an opportunity to reset how work gets done in ways that make it multiple times more efficient and effective—free of the burden of historical norms.

Let’s bring both these concepts together right here and right now.

Let’s say you’re an entrepreneur and/or business owner.

You have been doing well for yourself.
You’ve got a product or service.
You may have a team around you.
You’re making a profit.
That spells success.

Now along comes change in the form of COVID-19.

We dealt with it within the confounds of our understanding at that time.

Now back to your uniqueness… you’ve changed in a unique way

Whether you run a marketing agency, engineering company, CPA corporation or anything else… you have changed, your customers have changed, your team has changed, and a lot more besides.

So, the question is, how do you harness your uniqueness and that change to build a better future?

Well, of course, it’s not one-fits-all.

You don’t want to look like you just walked out of a Target fitting room (sorry Target – we miss you – honestly). When it comes to running your company you don’t want to think in general sizes - small, medium, large, extra-large. You want to think in the terms of bespoke dress or suit. Tailored to your exact measurements.

Let’s start with your uniqueness. What makes you special. Your super-powers.

You need to work with an executive business coach that gets that. They have to start by asking about you – not about the business.

You’re deeper than chasing the first or next million dollars. Maybe, just maybe, there are other things that are as or more important – your health, your relationships, your loved one, your family, hobbies, beliefs, aspirations, interests… now I think about it, there are most definitely a lot more important things than money.

So, the first step is to work with an executive coach that gets that. Someone who can pull that from you and get it on paper. I call it a personal vision. We’re looking into the future. If you can see your personal vision - your business can hep you achieve that. In fact it can help you achieve something so meaningful - for you - that everything makes sense. That personal achievement is your Champagne Moment and it gives you passion to run your business.

And if maybe taking on less business, working with less customers, freeing up your time for other things outside of work is part of that vision – let’s not judge. Let’s find your uniqueness.

Now we need to deal with that change.

You’re going to need to be working with someone that’s been successful – build businesses as an entrepreneur, but also knows their way around the corporate world. You need their experience.

PLUS, you need the experience of other business owners that are going through the same thing. So, they can share their uniqueness and you can take or adapt from their changes. That’s where a business owner peer-board comes in.

Some things are directly transferable. How they applied for PPP or whether to take the EIDL. Someone on a board last week shared that one of their employees posted on social media they had COVID, before the owner could inform his team. Guess what, within an hour or so, half a dozen business owners having heard that story implemented that anyone sent home from work for further COVID testing is asked NOT to post that on social media. Simple. Efficient. Timely. Done.

Another owner shared how they were able to hire 20+ team members in a couple of weeks… which was enough insight to know it’s possible… which then pushed another owner to put in place a plan to hire 30+ people if they pick up the national account they are pitching. And of course, that plan didn’t start from scratch – there was some great insight learned from the first business owner.

We don’t need to run our businesses like it 2019.

We do need to get the support and have the vision to run our businesses - in a unique manner that is authentic - like it’s 2021.

Now it’s your turn. What’s changed? What’s your personal vision? What’s your champagne moment?

Post here – I would love to know.

If you found just one nugget of advice or inspiration in this quick video useful, then please like and share.

Join me next Tuesday - when we’ll take another look into Entrepreneurship and business ownership for today’s economy.

My name is Nick Leighton and I wish you passion, profit and happiness.