When working with many of my clients I have to spend time with them initially to instill a degree of discipline and routine.
This approach applies to any business type and on the way to the train station yesterday my taxi driver was talking about exactly this subject.
He was talking about the influx of new taxi drivers in during the past year. Many of these new drivers had used redundancy money from another career to purchase a car and get started as a taxi driver. My driver then told me that they hadn't applied themselves and developed the necessary, effective, regimes.
He then went on to list the specific disciplined actions that they did not undertake to be a successful (i.e. profitable) taxi driver.
Many people underestimate the need for discipline and routine in day to day business. It is vital and can prevent many of the time wasting mishaps that occur in business on a regular basis. It can also, more importantly, help drive efficiency and the opportunity to improve your business.
So, take the advice of my taxi driver and implement a handful of effective routines / regimes / disciplines that can improve how your business works.
Giles Johnston
Author of 'Business Process Re-Engineering', a practical plan to improve business performance.