As a busy entrepreneur, you spend the lion’s share of your day meeting the needs of others. You’re actively tackling the needs of your clients, your employees, your accountant, that weird guy on Linkedin with his connection request….you get the picture. Your day is all about others and their requests. How about you and your business? Did you know that your business has needs, too?

Although most entrepreneurs understand their business has needs, the biggest challenge is to prioritize those needs.  Most times the needs of the business are postponed to what is hoped to be a more convenient time. You know what that means – the needs of the business, like strategic thinking, planning, and execution, are seldom met.

There’s much to learn about meeting your business needs from the announcement heard while flying – Put your oxygen mask on before assisting others. The airline industry knows you’re not any good to anyone else if you’re unconscious. The same principle applies to your business.

When you meet your business needs first, things get exciting! Your business becomes stronger and grows more rapidly. And, you’re able to meet the needs of others in a much different – and better – way.

Needless to say, it takes great courage to help yourself and your business before helping others. It seems to go against conventional wisdom. Tell us what you think. Is putting your business needs first a challenge for you? How have you restructured your business to meet your needs first?

If you participate in any sort of athletic activity (running, biking, hiking, walking, etc.), there is much to learn about achievement that can be aptly applied to your business.  Like today, while completing a 6 mile pace run in preparation for an upcoming half-marathon, I learned that when I take myself to the limits of my physical capabilities, I discover a missing ingredient that will expand those limits.

Generally, I don’t like to sweat, feel pain, breathe heavy or do anything exhausting.  This makes training for long-distance events somewhat ‘interesting’.   However, I have an expectation of improvement from my training efforts therefore I move forward with activities I dislike.

Many business owners feel much the same way toward business development activities. Growing a smart business takes effort. Business planning takes time.  A competitive analysis requires extensive time and research. Tweaking and tuning a value proposition is challenging. Developing relationships takes time, tact, and talent.  We’d much rather apply the pasta principle – throw it against the wall and see what sticks – then invest time, energy and sweat into such agonizing activities.

Yet, when you have an expectation of success from your smart business, you, too, must persevere through activities you loathe.  If you let each pursuit be its own teacher, it will inform, guide, or clarify in a way that enlarges any perceived achievement limits.

What helps you move past your limits to your smart buisness?