Reduced Stress

It's lonely: The adage, "It's lonely at the top," is applicable to owners of privately held companies. Some may say, "I understand how you feel," but that is always a false statement. Nobody really understands how lonely it can be except the person at the top of the organization. The loneliness can grow exponentially dependent upon the amount and types of stress placed upon the owner.

Necessary stress: There is some stress that is necessary to help owners grow in their creative capacities. Necessary stress may result from time spent in understanding customer needs, creating a new or better product or service than the existing competition, research and knowledge to keep ahead of competition, etc. This type of stress increases the energy level of entrepreneurs and helps them become a catalyst for future change. Hence, their incredible importance to our society.

Unnecessary stress: There are far too many unnecessary types of stress placed upon business owners. These stresses may seem infinite to an owner, but generally include:

1. Cash
2. Inability to see into the future
3. Inability to obtain loans
4. Unproductive employees
5. Employees who steal time, money and other assets
6. Internal or external reporting of any type
7. Making key decisions using erroneous or untimely information
8. Distractions from important activities

Important activities: Owners do not get into business to do administrative and other distracting activities that they find boring, menial and outside of their passion. The important activities for owners are called Finding Activities, as is illustrated in the following image (and in our books).

Finders: The entrepreneur, the visionary, the leader, the idea generator and the catalyst for future change. Finders work in the future.

Minder: The administrative, accounting and operational staff. Minders work in the past.

Grinder: Those who create the products or services. Grinders work for today and are not concerned about the future or the past.

Involuntary pull: The Finder is involuntarily pulled down into Minding and Grinding activities as the business grows in size and complexity, as is shown in the following image.

Finders: The entrepreneur, the visionary, the leader, the idea generator and the catalyst for future change. Finders work in the future.

Minder: The administrative, accounting and operational staff. Minders work in the past.

Grinder: Those who create the products or services. Grinders work for today and are not concerned about the future or the past.

Involuntary pull: The Finder is involuntarily pulled down into Minding and Grinding activities as the business grows in size and complexity, as is shown in the following image.

Good News: Some Finders ask the question, "Is it even possible to get back to Finding Activities?" The answer, in the majority of situations, is a resounding "yes!" It takes working with people who know how to cause this to happen.