Why do so many business owners express a simple solution for what is almost always a complex problem?
For example I can expect to hear one or more of the following ‘solutions’ during a discussion with with a business owner talking about the state of their business.
All I need are:
1) better people
2) more sales
3) more cash or
4)more time and my problems will go away.
I’m convinced this is a method for them to dream about a better place. Like winning a $300MM Power Ball Lottery. Life would sure be great “if only” one or more of those events happened in my business.
The problem with that kind of thinking is that the owner now feels the big business problems for the company have been “framed” and eventually one or more of these ‘solutions’ will just happen and the problems will go away. The owner usually can’t explain how or when these ‘solutions’ will come about, indicating lack of knowledge or experience to actually solve the problems of his business.
The reality is there are few simple solutions to improve the operations and financial performance of a business. All business problems involve a mix of product/service, marketing/sales and administrative/people issues that have to be identified, sorted and considered to come up with the best solutions.
The simplest solution to fixing any business is: “Improve Profits”. Who can argue with that? Now how the heck do I do it?