I was really taken with one scene from the movie Center Stage where the ballet teacher gently scolds one of the students by reminding her that if there is a problem with her dancing, there is only one thing to do: Go back to the barre.

As you may know, barres are a part of most dance studios. You may find them in front of the mirrors, or there may be portable barres in the middle of the floor. The dancers warm up holding onto them and go through established sequences of movements as part of their training. 

How does this apply to small biz owners? 

It means that when things aren’t going well, or as you had hoped, you need to go back to the fundamentals – back to the barre. 

Not many people know this, but I studied ballet very intensely for a while. I took 3.5 hour classes 4 days a week, primarily doing barre work. It was brutal and wonderful. Working at the barre gives you balance and rock-solid technique. That’s what the small business owner needs when things aren’t going well.

Let’s go through a warm-up sequence for a business reboot:

  • First Position: Ensure existing clients are happy. Reach out and touch someone. I am the worst about this, but calling instead of sending an email might be the right thing to do. This should help keep your recurring revenue stream flowing.
  • Second Position: Look for missed follow-ups. Are there prospects you should have sent something to? Added to your database? Called back? Just suck it up and apologize for the delay. People understand. Everybody is busy. Oftentimes someone will even make it easier for you by saying, “I’ve been meaning to call you!”
  • Third Position: (There is a third position but nobody uses it – did I trip you up? The sequence is always first, second, fourth, fifth.)
  • Fourth Position: Review your marketing cadence. Haven’t updated your blog or sent out your newsletter in x weeks (or months)? There’s no time like the present. Don’t explain or apologize, just get some good content published pronto.
  • Fifth Position: Get hands-on with your to-do list and your calendar. Capture the must-do activities and block out specific times for them over the next two weeks. Commit to completing these activities and accept no excuses.

If you follow this sequence you will hopefully preserve your existing revenue, which will enable you to pay your bills while you pursue new revenue opportunities. 

Like anything else, this kind of business reboot gets easier over time. And I promise you will have to do it more than once, especially as a solo business owner.

Do you think your situation is different, too embarrassing, or insurmountable? It isn’t. Stop feeling sorry for yourself (or lying to yourself) and just get started. 

A body at rest tends to stay at rest so the key is to start moving and doing something every day to move your business forward.

Photo by Solen Feyissa on Unsplash