Venturing into the realm of owning your own business is both exciting and daunting! Congratulations for having the courage to take that step! What business articles, your mentor or even your best friend have neglected to tell you, however, is that along with your new business can come complete chaos.
Chaos is defined by Merriam-Webster as:
A. often capitalized : a state of things in which chance is supreme; especially : the confused unorganized state of primordial matter before the creation of distinct forms
B. the inherent unpredictability in the behaviour of a complex natural system
C. a state of utter confusion
So, now that we know the definition of chaos, how do you make sure it doesn’t take over when things are going exactly as planned?
Planning and systems: Simple, elegant and oh-so-effective!
Planning – Pretty self-explanatory, but for many of us (looking around and trying not to acknowledge that I’m an offender here), planning a course of action is one of the most effective ways to control and overcome chaotic work schedules. Planning can take the form of time allotment, workflow or developing a contingency plan to help smooth over the bumps of business. Planning helps to obliterate the first definition of chaos as you are taking away an environment where chance is supreme.
The other secret weapon to overcoming chaos in your business is systems. A systematic and orderly way of managing your work is a preventative measure. A bit of preplanning (see, there is that word again!) can save you from having to manage a less than orderly situation.
A system can help you prepare and prevent the third definition of chaos, a state of utter confusion. Systems are confusion’s nemesis, order reigns supreme over chaos! A good system can help you predict what needs to be done next, so when the unexpected pops up, you are able to predict your response and can pick back up where you need to.
Systems can be implemented by using project management software or even a spreadsheet. They can transfer with ease from one project to the next. You know what to expect. Therefore, no confusion!
Look at you, kicking chaos out the door and bringing success in!
image by Phillie Casablance on Flickr
