The Pain of Being Average

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What plagues most small business owners, the world over, is the pain of being average! But “average” is a preventable condition.

Just a few weeks ago, I heard a gospel minister discuss the reality that, “When we don’t pursue our best, and we settle for average, there is a consequence.”

In fact, he said, “When the pain of being average becomes greater than the fear of greatness, THEN you will rise to the next level.”

It reminds me of a statement made by Michael Gerber, who challenges small business owners to “look inward for outward problems.”

Gerber wrote in his business book, The E-Myth, “You are the problem, you’ve always been the problem, and you will always be the problem until YOU change.”

In other words, to move to the next level in business, we must first address the root cause of settling for average. Which is US!

Pain Points of the Average Printing Business

Years of seeing small business owners, struggling daily with the pain caused from accepting average (“business as usual”), makes me want to shake them, to WAKE UP!

All the following pain points of “average” are totally avoidable:

• Working long hours to keep up with current business
• Mistakes and miscommunication causing frustration and bottlenecks
• Wearing too many hats, due to poor delegation procedures
• Little time to grow; much less, work ON the business
• Unable to leave the premises without the owner’s cell phone exploding

Sadly, for most small business owners, that’s a short list of pain points. But again, when the pain becomes too much, owners will hopefully seek the next level.

What IS the next level in business? It is removing the business frustrations caused by being average — one system at a time.

A bold statement to consider…

“If a business owner would make a one-year commitment to systemize their business, they would leave AVERAGE behind. They can have a GREAT business for the rest of their business life.”

Now, we are NOT talking about making a feeble attempt for a few weeks. Or delegating to a manager what only the owner should do. Yes, owners can incorporate the help of others, but the owner MUST lead the charge!

There is NO magic wand that will bring next-level business into existence. However, there are great tools that will make the journey much easier and faster.

But again, I’m talking about a ONE-YEAR effort, backed with a commitment to finish the race no matter the obstacles!

Yes, living it every business day and many weekends, cleaning up the messes in your business, SYSTEMATICALLY. No stone left unturned; no area of the business left unaddressed.

Importantly, writing down how your business should operate, look, and feel; designing the business to operate without you being present.

Still, if you think you CAN’T do this, then you CAN’T!

An old proverb says, “As a man thinks, so he IS!”

So, make a “can-do” statement with a “never give up” commitment and leave “average” behind. 

Did I mention? Great systems work!