In my last blog I spoke of my Business/Biker friend who was experiencing the pain of a second wave of layoffs within his company.  We all know he’s not alone as thousands of companies have gone through it.  Not all get the same big press as when major corporations do it, but that doesn’t lessen the devastation. 

The toll paid on both sides is extreme as one person is left unemployed and the other still fighting for survival.  Screw the win-win scenarios of the past, this is pure lose-lose. So, as an entrepreneur, how do you get through it?  After all is said and done, your focus must be on the work to be done.  As much as you grieve for those left behind, it’s time to now turn your attention to those still with the organization and how to ensure against future cutbacks.

The first thing you need to do is re-calibrate where you’re going.  The landscape has shifted and you must confirm that your original destination is still valid.  The CEOs I work with have told me that their next 5-10 years goals have changed dramatically.  Some good and some not so good, but it’s their new reality. 

In order to define your new direction I recommend you get away from it all for a weekend.  Find a place where there’s no phone, no internet, little to no television or music and most importantly – no companion.  This is vitally important because there can be no distractions in order to really stop and let the background noise around you settle.  This time alone isn’t about structure, it’s about being.  It’s a time that HAS to be all about you and simply being alone with your thoughts.

It’s such a foreign concept to most people that the silence and aloneness will be difficult at the start, but clients have told me that after about a day or so they ‘get it’ and things begin to come together.  They begin to see more clearly and better understand where it is they are and more importantly where it is they now need to go.

Remember, at a time like this, there are no magic seminars or best selling books that can do as much to help you work through this situation than you simply getting away and having an extended conversation with yourself. After all, you’ve done a good job building the company to this point – now all you have to do is have faith in your abilities and in the words of Obi-Wan Kenobi – “trust in the force”.  It’s inside us all.

 Dwain

The Biker Guy

As always – This is just my opinion, I could be wrong.  So, if you disagree or simply want to pile on, please do so either here on the BLOG or email me directly at Navigator@BikersGuidetoBusiness.Com  I look forward to hearing from you.

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