I love autumn - you can feel the freshness in the air and at the same time, enjoy the sun as it’s not too hot - it’s a lovely time of year. So how can we liken business to nature’s rhythms and cycles?
I discovered this interesting analogy in the book I am reading at the moment: “Your Life Your Legacy” by Roger Hamilton. He says you become aware of the current season, by knowing what season your business has just passed through. If you have a great product that has proven itself in the market, you are out of spring and into summer - focussing on building your market. If you have many new customers and sales are coming easily, you are out of spring and into autumn - focussing on servicing your customers well. If your customers are happy and your staff settled, you are out of autumn and into winter - focussing on building the right systems for the next spring.
Roger warns that you can hold on to a winning formula too long, so go with the seasons! “Never cut a tree down in the wintertime. Never make a negative decision in the low time. Wait. Be patient. The storm will pass. The spring will come” Robert Schuller
I also like the quote from the movie “Being There” starring Peter Sellers when he speaks about his garden, growth and seasons: “so long as the roots are not severed, all will be well in the garden and there will be growth in the spring”.
How are the ‘roots’ of your business? Are they in tact? What nurtures and supports growth for you and your business?
