As business owners, we are constantly pulled in a multitude of directions.  We are salespeople, human resource managers, IT professionals, bookkeepers, janitors and marketing managers.  Almost a year ago, Steve and I hired a business coach, Dan Holstein, of ActionCoach Business Coaching.  To be honest it was a tough decision.  With more than 40 years of business experience between us, we thought that we knew everything that there was to know, so what could Dan possibly help us with?  But since we were looking to take AIS to the next level, we thought that we would try something different.  After only one month we realized what a brilliant decision we had made in retaining the services of Dan.  The main challenge that we had, was to realize that as business owners, we shouldn’t be doing everything.  Dan taught us to look at AIS with a different set of eyes and a different viewpoint.  The viewpoint of the business owner, and not as someone who works in the business.  I won’t say that it has been an easy transition – one of the key characteristics of being an entrepreneur is also being a control freak.  Wanting to have your hand in every aspect of your business, and if it is a task that we could do, why would we pay someone else to do it for us?  That thinking resulted in us working 60 hours a week, 7 days a week, and having no down-time, or any time to focus on the growth of our business.
I tell you all of that so you know that I understand.  I understand how difficult it is to let go.  How difficult it is to let someone else into your business.  It feels like you are giving away a part of yourself.  I get it.  But if you ever have the hope of creating a business, and not just a job for yourself, that is something that you have to do.
Start small.  Compile a list of everything that you currently do in your business.  Be specific.  Once you’ve compiled this list, and I’m sure you will be as stunned as I was as to just how much you do, put them in order.  In order of things that you love to do at the top, and that you hate to do at the bottom.
If you are like most business owners, bookkeeping will be at or near the bottom of that list.  Don’t worry, I won’t take it personally
The reality is that bookkeeping is a function of business that most business owners find to be a nuisance and a necessary evil of running your own business.  Vendors that need paying, staff paycheques that require time and effort and sending bills to your customers.
In my next post, I’ll outline a scenario of what proper bookkeeping can provide to help you in your business if done correctly.  Stay tuned!
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