STAND UP AND TAKE THE REINS!

This week I attended a meeting called by a friend; he had a unique concept for a new social group, an opportunity to meet people and to make new friends.  From the brief description he sent out, about 30 people showed up for an organizational meeting. The theory was pretty good: the group would meet once a month and have a social and add other types of outings.

After an hour of presentation and a very lively group discussion, the time came for people to help direct this new entity.  Everyone was willing to make lots of suggestions, but no-one wanted to take any kind of a leadership role.

This experience was a good example of a life-lesson that I have seen repeat itself over and over. The participants wanted to be “back-seat” drivers but were unwilling to take the wheel and drive.

As a small business owner, you have to take the reins of leadership in your own business. I believe that it is of almost equal importance that you take the leadership position in your community or an industry organization, whenever the opportunity presents itself.

One of the best ways to get your name and that of your business out in the community is by volunteering, working hard and eventually taking on leadership responsibility. By working hard on behalf of the volunteer organization, you will be recognized and so will your business.

Working solely in your business and not giving back to your industry or community can be a very costly mistake. Look at the leadership in your industry and in your community. Most of the leadership is composed of very successful business owners and they all started at the bottom of their business and at the bottom of  their community involvement.

Don’t go to someone else’s networking session, start your own group. Don’t go to another class; prepare yourself to teach the next class. Leadership opportunities are seldom handed out, you have to find them. Whatever groups you belong to raise your hand and volunteer to help grow the group or to do whatever is needed.

The people that you want to associate with are the movers and shakers, those that have the guts to take on responsibility. By staying mired down within the bigger group you will never discover the many  benefits that “taking hold of the reins” can provide.