As a new parent, I’ve found that children teach us a lot—not just about ourselves or the parenting journey, but about life and, in a special way, about business and entrepreneurship. Recently, my family and I took a trip, and one of the funny little happenings on that trip reminded me of a struggle many of us face as parents, but also as business professionals. I wanted to share the story in the hope that it gives you the encouragement you need to make the right call on your business systems.
My toddler has recently formed a special attachment to a little toy bus. At first, it was sweet. Then it became interesting—family members even started asking why the bus featured in all of his photos—and finally, it became a bit of a nuisance. Before our trip, I made the mistake of forgetting the bus at daycare. The next day, naptime went sideways as he ended up crying himself to sleep because he didn’t have his beloved bus by his side. If that doesn’t sum up toddler parenting, I don’t know what does.
The bus saga hit its peak on our family trip. In a fit of excitement, my toddler threw the bus on the floor, and it broke apart into several little pieces. Between the wheelbase, the windshield, and the seats, the bus was completely destroyed. We panicked, gathered the pieces, and figured we’d reassemble it when we got home. But alas, bedtime arrived, and we needed that bus. So, I gave my toddler just the yellow metal bus frame, and, surprisingly, that satisfied him for the rest of the trip.
As we made our way home, the inevitable happened: my toddler pushed the bus frame over a ledge, and that was the end of it. The bus was gone. A sense of relief mixed with dread washed over me. Half of me thought, "Thank goodness! The bus-related anxiety is over." But the other half wondered, "How are we going to explain that the bus is gone? How long will we be mourning this bus? And what’s going to be our next ‘bus’?"
This whole experience got me thinking about how common this situation is—not just for parents but also for business professionals, especially as it relates to my line of work, when it comes to business systems. How often does a business adopt a system, form a dependency on it, customize it beyond recognition, and end up using fragments of its original promised functionality? And how often do they face the decision of pushing that system over the ledge and starting anew?
If your CRM (or any system) feels like that toy bus—something you’ve grown super-dependent on, but isn’t really getting the job done anymore—I’m here to help.
Sometimes, the solution is to rebuild what’s broken. Other times, it’s better to start fresh with a system that can grow with your business. I’m not afraid to do either, and I’m happy to work with you to figure out the best approach for your unique situation. Let’s take the pieces of your bus—or your CRM—and turn them into a strategy that drives real results and empowers your business to grow.
And tying in another important element, as we approach Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, this is the perfect time to reflect and reset. Despite all the challenges this year has presented (and there have been many), we now look forward with hope and optimism. It’s a time to make decisions that will lead us into a new chapter—both personally and professionally.
So, as you think about your business and the systems that drive it, ask yourself: Is it time for a fresh start? If you’re ready to clear away what’s no longer working and begin the new year with clarity and purpose, reach out. Together, we can create a plan that ensures your systems are built to take you into a successful new year and beyond.
Here’s to growth, new beginnings, and a sweet new year ahead.
Comments