Driving a car requires all sorts of skills and learning and I believe the principles of running a business and driving a car are very similar, and here’s why.

Imagine sitting in the driving seat of a car, thinking about the journey ahead. Perhaps we know where we are going and how to get there or perhaps we plug in the satnav.

As we begin to drive along, we check the rear-view and side mirrors, we look and listen to what’s around us and we listen to the sounds the car is making. We are aware of what’s behind us, other vehicles that may be approaching, but. Most of our time is spent looking ahead, looking for the next bend in the road, junction, roundabout or obstacle, perhaps even another car to overtake.

I believe running a business should be like driving a car because we should spend the same amount of time looking ahead in our businesses as we do looking ahead when driving. In reality, so many business owners spend most of their time looking at what’s behind them, focusing on what’s around them, their short term goals (out of the side window), and not enough time looking and planning for what’s ahead. Trust me when I say that if we don’t look far enough ahead, we are going to crash, maybe not now, but soon.

Like driving, the further ahead we look, the better we can plan and be prepared for our journey. If we use a satnav, we are given clear guidance on what’s ahead so we can take appropriate action.

Like a car, our business must be maintained, serviced and upgraded. It’s not enough to just go out and buy a car (start a business), put fuel in it (get customers), and expect the car to run forever, it won’t, so we must invest.

Do you see your car as a cost or an investment?

Like a car, our business is there as a platform to move our lives from where we are to where we want to be.

Next time you are out driving, or even a passenger, be aware of how much time you are looking ahead and focusing on where you are going and how much time you are planning for your arrival; not where you have been. Now work on applying the same principles in your business; imagine looking further ahead than you are at this moment in time, being better prepared, and if you are not sure how to get there, using the best satnav you can find. In business of course, the best satnav would be a mentor or coach like me.

I hope this analogy has resonated with you and I hope it helps you think about looking ahead rather than behind or to the side.

I’ll leave you with one final thought – what will you do if your competition is a better driver than you, or they have a better car?

Book a call with me here to talk about becoming a better driver for your business


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Remember, there are only three types of people – those who make things happen, those who wait for things to happen, and those who talk about why things don’t happen for them. Which one are you?