CLAIRE BRADFORD: Some welcome signs of life on the high street

WITH the worst of the storms behind us, blossom starting to appear on the trees and an array of daffodils and crocuses peeking out of the sodden ground, it seems that spring is on its way.

And just as these colourful heralds act as a promise of milder weather to come, could it be that we are starting to see buds and shoots appearing in the local business world now after the long, hard winter of recession?

Signs of life on the high street, such as long-empty premises being leased and whispers of new ventures being set up are getting more and more commonplace.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And, whilst many are still struggling, the news no longer reads like a depressing economic casualty list.

Could it finally be time for business owners to relax their belts just a little?

What are some of the shoots that you are tending and bulbs that you are planting in your business this spring?

Have you been mainly concentrating on surviving these last few years?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

What if you planned not only to survive but to thrive this year? What would that look like?

Here are some questions you can ask yourself about your business to help you to look up and see the big picture if you’ve become a bit stuck in the ‘battling through’ mentality:

If money were no object to my business’s clients, what would they most love to buy?

If money were no object to my business, what product or service would we most love to offer or develop?

What is my wildest dream for my business?

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

How will I know when this business is truly a success in my own eyes?

What will be the signs?

What will my business’s legacy be?

The answers to these questions will help you to be very clear about what you want to harvest from your business, and that will tell you what you first need to sow and to tend to.

Gather the tools you’ll need, prepare the ground by getting rid of business weeds – things such as procrastination, ineffective team members and unprofitable time sink, and get started.

And, as a result, may the spring sunshine relight your business fire!

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

What business seeds are you planting this spring? Email me at [email protected] or alternatively, tweet me @coachbythecoast

For more information about Straightforward Coaching, visit www.straightforwardcoaching.com