The old expression about not seeing the forest for the trees can hold a lot of wisdom for business owners. Too often, people who run a business spend so much time dealing with the day-to-day aspects of their companies that they fail to focus on the big picture. And, the big picture is often where the biggest opportunities are present. Companies like Google understand this, allowing their employees to spend 20% of their workdays on personal projects. Corporate executives would do well to implement a similar rule for themselves. Once a rule like this is established, it can become a habit. With that in mind, here are two ideas to help you as you focus on the big picture of your business.
1. Stay Current
Usually, business owners are experts on their esoteric fields whether their businesses involve coffee or copier repair. However, looking outside your field can provide a fertile ground for ideas. Try starting at the top: read a good source of world news, like The Economist, or The New York Times. You may start to notice trends that apply to your business, and you may gain insight about how your marketplace will be changing in the future. Of course, it’s a good idea to stay current with trends at lower levels, too. Certainly, reading any periodicals relating to your industry is a must, as is keeping up with local and state news.
2. Travel
If you’re a business owner who spends most of your time in your business’s town or city, you’re probably missing out on some important opportunities, and on gaining some important knowledge. Visiting similar businesses in other cities can be a great way to get firsthand information about your industry, as can attending trade shows and conferences. Don’t ever develop the attitude that you know all there is to know about your business.
