A close examination of processes and scenarios will fortify your business in the event of Disagreement, Divorce, Disability, Distress, or Death. These 5 “D’s” are possible scenarios faced by all businesses. A well-prepared business contingency plan gives your business the ability to maintain the course, or to effectively change direction in event of the “unforeseen.” But what if you someday decide that you have lost all passion for your business, and that you want to walk away?  Here we’ll discuss this sixth, “Bonus D” that we’ll call “Don’t Want to do it Anymore.”

In our recent blogs, we’ve discussed the first four of these “D’s.” We have now, unfortunately, arrived at the sad but inevitable fifth “D” of Death. We’ve already learned that 50% of business exits are NOT voluntary. It is vital for business owners to be ready, with plan in place, when the inevitable happens.

Every business needs a contingency plan for Disability, the third D. Even the Constitution of the United States makes allowances for questions raised by presidential disability, which has happened a number of times throughout our history.

“In every marriage more than a week old, there are grounds for divorce. The trick is to find, and continue to find, grounds for marriage.” –  Robert Anderson In our last newsletter, I introduced the concept of the “Five D’s,” five major events that can create severe disorder in a business. These are:

“The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress.” – Joseph Joubert I often talk about the “Five D’s” as five major events that can create severe disorder in a business.

My job is often to be very candid with my clients regarding an outsider’s perspective on the condition of their business. That sometimes carries with it a depressing attitude back from prospective clients or actual clients when they have put a lot of blood, sweat, & tears into their business, which for many could be classified as their “baby”. That reality or slap in the face could become a big weight that may threaten their motivation to do what is required to push forward with improving the business or turning it around, in the worst case.

As our decade comes to a close, take a moment to pause and reflect on the past, prior to making new resolutions and setting goals. Acknowledge how you overcame obstacles and give yourself a pat on the back for the progress you have made. At the same time, recognize that self-imposed roadblocks make up a large portion of the hurdles faced by each of us. Were these the roadblocks that stopped you from achieving more? You may have been super busy, but what did you really accomplish?

We all know how important it is to give back to our communities. Besides helping our companies build a positive reputation, philanthropic endeavors can improve employee morale. And more and more consumers like buying from socially responsible businesses.

“Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour and it seems like a minute. That’s relativity.” – Albert Einstein And yet, for those of us not blessed with an astronomical IQ, time does seem to be speeding up. I often compare the second half of a year to the second half of a gas tank. The first half seems to take forever; the second disappears in the blink of an eye. Which is how we find ourselves, ready or not, in October with the holidays staring us in the face.

What are you working on today? What will you accomplish this week or month? Who is demanding your time and attention? Are you really satisfying their requests? Why did you get out of bed this morning? Why are you the owner of your business? What is your passion and purpose? Do you remember your “Why”?

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes . . . including you.” – Anne Lamott Many business people, especially owners, consider vacations “guilty pleasures.” That’s assuming they take one at all. Vacations should be a necessity, not a luxury.