90% of small business is not done from behind a desk (so sayeth The Bad Entrepreneur) – so why the heck are you sitting behind your desk reading this blog?!

I’m without a doubt one of the world’s worst cynics. I hate sitting in group meetings, strategy sessions and conference breakfasts listening to pitches – I am not really much of a “people’s person” and I believe myself to be far more productive when I am “strategizing” or “doing marketing stuff” while sitting behind the relative safety of my PC. The idea of going to a presentation or conference where  I might actually learn something or meet somebody interesting.

But the reality is that small business success often comes from people working together and finding ways to cooperate that eventually help them build sustainable SME’s. I met with a guy today – he probably earns more in a single day than I will make in a month – I wouldn’t have met him and picked up about a dozen useful ideas for businesses and leads if I had turned down the meeting with him (which I nearly did – simply because I was quite comfortable behind my desk). 

I saw a similar thing with a breakfast function 2 months back. I didn’t really want to attend but felt like it was the right thing to do. The presentation itself bored my socks off but I walked away with business cards for two other small businesses where we were able to reciprocate a bit of marketing… I would never have known they existed if I had sat on my butt convincing myself that I was “marketing” or “providing strategic direction” from the safety of my desk. I’m not providing anything by hiding – I am providing an excuse not to succeed. It doesn’t matter how shy you are, or how little you enjoy dealing with people, unfortunately if you are planning to succeed, you are going to need them.

Sometimes running an SME means that you become a little isolated. You never get out and meet people or simply get a fresh perspective. This can be dangerous for your entrepreneurial health – your clients are outside your office remember?! I know one of the worst things I did as an entrepreneur was that as things became steadily worse, I would hide in my office convincing myself that I was working and productive. But the reality was that I had all my admin up to date and bugger all in the way of sales leads or marketing happening – the local entrepreneurial twit!

Stop convincing yourself that you need to be behind your desk all day every day waiting in the hope that an e-mail will come in with a big order. You’re probably kidding yourself – get out to the trade shows and the conferences. Liaise with the professionals in your industry and use these leads to springboard into more meaningful business relationships rather than being a laptop jockey.

Make an effort to get out and interact with your industry. Sometimes just this fresh air and fresh view can reinvigorate you more than some minor business successes. Good luck for tomorrow!