21st July will be 6 months since I had a stent fitted to cure a badly blocked coronary artery. This was a complete surprise to me – a regular runner who felt firmly in control of his own health.
I remember hearing a notable CEO saying that the day you felt that your business was ticking along nicely, was the day you needed to stop and ask yourself, ‘What have I missed?’, in order to avoid unpleasant surprises.
You may be able to do the review yourself, but most of us benefit from turning to trusted allies to bring their perspective into the mix.
I was lucky, as the NHS and the British Heart Foundation provided me with knowledgeable support, and several plans of action. And now, having followed their advice, not only am I back running again, but I’m entered in a 25 km trail run in Scotland in August, raising funds for the BHF.
Think of any sports team or competitor who regularly enters competitions. They train hard, they work towards goals, they compete, they have a result. Afterwards, they celebrate when appropriate and then they reflect. Then they go again, onwards to the next challenge, armed with new knowledge and an improved plan. And you should do the same with your business.
Have clear milestones on the way to your ultimate goal, and take time to celebrate each one as you achieve it, before reflecting and then tweaking your plan.
Next time your business hits one of its targets, mark two dates in your diary – one to celebrate with the team (a nice lunch perhaps, or going home early on a Friday?) and one for you to review the past and reframe your plan for an even stronger future.
