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最後に↓をポチっとお願いします♪
にほんブログ村
Hello, this is President Yasui. I run a one-person company specializing in high-pressure gas equipment inspections.
This morning, I received several phone calls, and although the work is scheduled for a later date, my schedule is now filling up. When handling job arrangements, I try not to take on too much myself and focus on doing things immediately whenever possible to avoid overlooking details.
Since I am the only one in my company, if I forget something, no one will remind me, and it could inconvenience my clients. I am able to continue my work thanks to the support of those around me.
This month, there haven't been many field jobs, so I have been "finding" tasks like manufacturing and spot jobs.
There are times when business is thriving, meaning "things are going well," and times when there is little work and I have free time, meaning "things aren’t going so well."
If you understand that this cycle happens every year, you can plan ahead and find productive things to do. However, people who fail to recognize this often become mentally drained just because they are not busy.
I feel that, over the past year, I have been able to reduce the toll this takes on me, but the damage from a slow sales month is still significant.
Since my main work involves field operations, revenue barely increases unless I go out on-site. Even if I provide estimates, revenue does not grow unless I secure projects.
To generate revenue, people around me must first know what kind of "seeds" I have. Then, I need them to introduce me to "land" where I can plant these seeds—meaning job opportunities. Without that, there will be no harvest, and no revenue.
It’s important not to become discouraged when things are slow and not to sell myself short. Instead, I must continue planting seeds consistently throughout the year. This downtime is also an opportunity to rest my body and prepare for busier periods.
Just because I am not busy doesn’t mean I should seek out others who are also idle to feel reassured. Of course, being busy is better, and having steady work throughout the year is ideal.
During the slower winter months, I like to work on ideas that came to me during busy times. Often, when we think, “If only I had time, I’d do this,” we don’t actually follow through when we do have time.
It’s common for people who say, “If I had time, I’d do XYZ,” to not actually do it when the opportunity arises.
Being able to use available time effectively is an essential skill, even as we age.
Once I retire from fieldwork, I may not be as physically active, but I will have far more disposable time.
Knowing how to use that disposable time effectively is a skill every businessperson should develop.
This is a lesson I learned through my own struggle with mental exhaustion since 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic began.
I can never regain the days I wasted aimlessly when I had free time, but I believe I have gradually built the ability to spend slow periods more effectively.
One crucial thing to remember is that if you are experiencing downtime throughout the entire year, it’s a red flag.
It likely means there’s a structural issue with your business, and you should reassess your business plan.
If sales are dropping drastically, something is not working. If you mistakenly think, "This is just a slow season," you could face serious trouble.
Small businesses like mine don’t have the financial strength to endure prolonged downturns.
That’s why it’s crucial to develop a "sensor" to detect problems before they become a crisis.
That is something to always keep in mind.
Today's Quote
"Just like there are no stocks that continuously rise, there are busy and slow periods throughout the year. Knowing these patterns makes it easier to plan. However, if business keeps declining, that’s a warning sign."
See you next time!
