It’s a tough question, and often one that stops anyone in their tracks. Because who on earth knows what the world will be like in 10 years time? How do we know where we'll be in 10 years' time?
Although none of us know the answers to these questions, looking at the bigger picture is a very valuable thing to do. Thinking about the future (and not only business but for our lives) can help to completely realign our perspectives, and remind us of what's really important.
It’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture when we’re so distracted by juggling the intricacies of our day-to-day, dedicating your valuable time to running mundane tasks for your business is an easy habit to slip into.
Yet with all this continuous juggling, it can sometimes seem as though we’re not moving anywhere. It's like projects just aren't budging, and we’ve been walking the wrong way on an escalator.
The bigger picture
We're all going to face unprecedented events, industry shifts, and surprising opportunities on the road ahead. But looking at the bigger picture, you can manage the current state of your business, while keeping an eye on what's coming.
Why it's important to look at the 'bigger picture':
- You can continually adapt to a shift in technologies
- You can mould your strategies around changing industry developments
- Helps to make better decisions
- Helps establish cleverer strategies
- You'll stay more relevant and competitive
It's all about asking ourselves 'why?' continually. If something is bothering you today, will it really matter tomorrow?
Having a 'vision' might sound like a cheesy cliché, but it's so important to remind yourself of it. Keeping your 'vision' streamlines your goals and everything you do.
Write a letter...to yourself.
Write a letter to the past version of yourself. Whatever your job or role, wherever we are in our lives, this is a great exercise for reflecting on experiences and progress. If you'd asked yourself 10 years ago, 'where do I see myself in 10 years?' then you can materialise everything you previously thought.
And vice versa. Write a letter to the future version of yourself in 10 years' time. Where do you see your business? What scale are you reaching?
This self-reflection tool helps us to retain gratitude for the smaller things, and really shows us where we are in our lives. Mini victories are equally as important as big ones.
Sowing the seeds
Gaining sight of the bigger picture helps to sow the seeds for a better business down the line.
Sowing the seeds in business is materialising your goals and setting the wheels in motion to make your plans work. It's the 'how' of your vision. How are you going to reach your vision.
This could be implementing a new CRM software, or perhaps networking alongside big names to begin a new business relationship with a mutually beneficial partner.
Don't lose sight of your values
Your values are what drives your business and keeps it going. Values shape everything, and they have a knock-on effect. Values are the reason we do what we do.
It's one thing to have values. But it's another thing to have values that actually mean something. Matching values to the everyday operations of your business can really help to solidify those values and build a more concrete ethos.
Values are the foundational groundwork for your company. It's what kicks off the tone of your workplace, and sets a representative example for your employees. It helps you attract the kinds of people and companies you want to work with, whether that's employees, suppliers, partners or stakeholders. And of course, it ultimately attracts your most valuable and pivotal profit magnet: your customers.
Helping you prioritise what's important
10 years sounds like a long time, but it's not.
Time is precious, and as much as we'd like to press the pause button sometimes - it doesn't wait for us. That means we need to prioritise what's really important first, to achieve those dreams and goals we set up to achieve.
Sometimes that's easier said than done, of course - because everything seems important.
How to prioritise:
- Realign your goals and vision
- Which aspect of your business currently has the best impact on business growth and profitability?
- Which aspects of the business will bring in more revenue?
- Delegate some tasks that don't require your direct attention
- Seek support when you need it, and share the load
Need some help?
If you're at a bit of a loose end and you need a bit of consultancy - then we're here for a chat. Sometimes the best kind of business audit is a fresh pair of eyes. Whether it's a new inbound marketing strategy or a fresh website, perhaps all it takes is one single move to domino positive outcomes for your business
