Ah, the ideal desire of most business owners - abundant profits and enjoyable work! Yes, it is quite possible, and I will discuss how.

First, be clear on why you are in business - no, not a phrase such as "to make the world a better place." How about a crisp, clear mission, such as - "We make boating more fun" (West Marine) or "Where history comes alive" (History Channel)?"  Do you want even more of a challenge?  Make sure you frame your mission from the customer's point of view; what is your value proposition from their perspective?

Second, be clear on your objectives - write them down - "To increase sales from $ 1 million to $ 1.5 million in 2008," and "Increase the average sale from $ 5,000 to $ 6,000."  Why write them down?  If I could count how many times I have heard "I don't need to write them down, they are all right here, in my head.  Well, that is great, but, more often than not, what is in their head may not allow these objectives to be top-of-mind priorities for the business.

Third, engage your employees and customers in your mission - "Increase employee involvement in problem-solving from 25% to 50%" and "Increase client retention rate from 50% to 85%."  How many of your employees understand your mission?  On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the highest, what level are they at?  How much work do you have cut out now?

Fourth, price your products competitively and control your costs - "Increase market share from 20% to 30%," and "Reduce operating expenses from 15% to 10% of sales."

Finally, take time to enjoy the fact that you can be successful and have fun if you write your mission and objectives down, share it with your employees and customers, and view every day as an opportunity to see your mission come alive in the eyes of your customers.
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