October is the month when we celebrate small business. Having your own business is a day-to-day exercise in processing information, and adapting to new challenges. You’re the boss! You decide if you’re doing the right thing. No one is going to evaluate your progress, or challenge you to finally tackle that new project you have been meaning to ‘get to’. Tasks such as updating your customer list, or watching the ‘features’ video that came with your brand new point-of-sale system happen because you want them to happen.

What do you do when you are faced with a steep learning curve? Do you…

• Call a staff meeting and ask everyone what they think, develop a plan together,that includes assigning tasks to each staff member complete with timelines, and criteria to measure success?
• Lock yourself in your office and hope that your old friend ‘Google’ or ‘YouTube’ can help you understand what you need to do next.
• Sign up for a seminar, take a day off, and enjoy networking with fellow business owners. During the seminar, take the opportunity to contribute to the discussion topic. After lunch, stop by your neighbourhood bookstore to purchase a book that takes an alternative view to the morning’s seminar topic, then discuss what you learned with staff members, when you are back to work tomorrow.

I hope you will take the time this month to challenge yourself to grow as an entrepreneur, and learn something new! Every town, city, and province has events. Trade shows, seminars, and award ceremonies are designed to encourage, and inspire the small business community. Here’s to us!

Cathy Burrell-former retailer-current Social Media Educator has almost completed the Provincial Instructor Diploma Program at Vancouver Community College. You can follow Cathy on Twitter @CathyCavern, Connect on LinkedIn, or visit her website at www.cavernretailconsulting.com