Two things irk me in business life, one is people who when asked how’s business going? Always reply “very busy”, like that’s a good thing.

In business many of us push the boundaries of what is achievable in a day. It’s a natural thing particularly if you are driving a new or fast growing business. In many cases, being busy is worn like a badge of honour. I suggest that if one is always (and consistently) busy (too busy to do anything else), it says more about their inabilities rather than their abilities. If the business is growing, then I propose two scenario’s, controlled growth or out of control growth.

If it’s out of control, then chances are our land as hard as you took off, and that your abilities had little to do with any imagined or real success. A hard landing may actually be deemed a crash, from which you don’t walk away.. the other one is that you ride the demand rollercoaster until you retire or die from a heart attack.

I, sadly, take some pleasure in responding to the above question sometimes in the following manner: “ yea,.. good.. did bugger all this week,…. “ …really? They respond.. ”well.. yea, its all very automated (its not really, but I’m working on it), so aside from drink too much coffee and write the occasional blog, not much else to do…of course anyone can work hard in their business, problem is most of them are slaves to it and venture have a moment to do anything else”..

All (well most) businesses that are growing face resourcing problems (ie people to do the work) and of course cash access problems. It’s normal. Working harder does nothing but make you stressed, it doesn’t fix the problem. Smart, strategic and well thought out action does.

I have never heard anyone say.. “phew,.. thank God I killed myself those three years.. now I can enjoy this business working without my contribution”.
So next time someone asks how business is going, just say..”good thanks,.. I’m bored shitless and don’t know what to do with all the extra cash I have”….