Sometimes it is easy to get so wrapped up in running our small business that we can’t see the big picture. We get bogged down in the daily grind of meeting customers, managing employees, making widgets, and paying the bills.

While these are necessary activities, they are examples of working in our business rather than on our business. They don’t help us plan, organize, or build our business. And when we don’t spend time doing these things, tomorrow will be no different from today.

Sometimes it’s best to stop doing and survey the scenery. Sometimes we need to not do something, but just stand there. (I don’t mean this literally.) Sometimes we need to step away from the daily activities of our business.

Setting goals may seem like a waste of time, but it helps us identify where we want to go. Planning may seem like a waste of time, but it helps us identify how we will get there. Developing systems may seem like a waste of time, but it helps us implement our plan. All of these help us build a better business.

If we set goals then we know where we are going. If we plan our actions then we know how we will get there. If we develop systems our actions become more efficient and we are more likely to achieve the desired results.

Sometimes it’s best to step back and look around. Sometimes it’s best to don’t do something, but just stand there.