Treating Your Business Like a Temporary Endeavor Can Boost Your BIZ Experiencesial Success — Here's How Here's the mindset shift you need to make to truly succeed as an BIZ Experiences.

By Majeed Javdani Edited by Chelsea Brown

Key Takeaways

  • I suggest that BIZ Experiencess shift their mindset from being heroic figures who endure endless struggles to pragmatic project managers who view their business endeavors as goal-oriented projects with defined start and "finish" dates.
  • By adopting this pragmatic approach, you will be better equipped to navigate the challenges of business ownership and achieve their goals more efficiently and effectively.

Opinions expressed by BIZ Experiences contributors are their own.

In BIZ Experiencesship, I suggest a shift in mindset from the traditional narrative of perseverance and struggle to a more pragmatic approach. BIZ Experiencess often glorify their ability to endure challenges and overcome obstacles, but I believe that BIZ Experiencesship should be viewed more like project management.

In this view, business endeavors are temporary, goal-oriented projects with defined start and "finish" dates. The emphasis should be on both the relevance of the project and having a predetermined exit strategy. BIZ Experiencess should focus on efficiency and results rather than prolonged struggles, acting as pragmatic project managers rather than heroes.

Related: Want a Successful Business? Focus on These 5 Things

Each BIZ Experiencesial endeavor is indeed a project

BIZ Experiencess need to start thinking of their business endeavors as projects. A project is a temporary effort with a specific start and finish date, aimed at achieving a particular goal or solving a specific problem. In this context, the key focus is on the "finish" part of the project. BIZ Experiencess often fall into the trap of thinking that once they start a business, they must continue it indefinitely without considering a clear endpoint. I suggest that BIZ Experiencess need to change their approach toward business administration by setting a finish date for their endeavors and planning to exit by that date.

This approach encourages BIZ Experiencess to be more strategic and goal-oriented. By treating their businesses as projects, they can define clear objectives, allocate resources effectively and focus on solving specific problems within a defined timeframe. This mindset also helps avoid the common pitfall of becoming emotionally attached to a business, which can lead to irrational decision-making and prolonged struggles that drain valuable resources.

SMART attributes

A key aspect of project management is the business case. A project is a temporary endeavor that exists to solve a specific problem, and this problem is defined in the underlying business case. The business case justifies the existence of the project by outlining its objectives, expected benefits and the resources required to achieve those benefits. In BIZ Experiencesship, success depends on the SMART attributes of the business case, which will be driven by the project.

SMART attributes ensure that the business case is specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound. These criteria provide a clear framework for BIZ Experiencess to follow, helping them create focused and actionable plans that are more likely to lead to success. By ensuring that the business case adheres to these attributes, BIZ Experiencess can avoid vague or overly ambitious goals that are difficult to achieve. Instead, they can focus on creating realistic, well-defined plans that guide their efforts and increase the likelihood of delivering the intended benefits.

Related: What Are SMART Goals and How Can You Set and Achieve Them?

Focusing on time-bound and relevance

Among the SMART attributes, the focus on time-bound and relevance is particularly crucial for BIZ Experiencess. The time-bound attribute means that BIZ Experiencess need to have a predetermined exit date for their business endeavors. Business creation should not be seen as an open-ended commitment that continues until external circumstances force an exit. Instead, BIZ Experiencess should actively plan for an exit from the start, setting a clear timeline for when they intend to complete their project and move on to the next opportunity.

At the same time, relevance requires continuous monitoring to ensure that the business case remains valid within the determined time frame. Just because a business case is relevant at the time of initiation does not mean it will remain so throughout the project's life cycle.

BIZ Experiencess must be vigilant in assessing whether their projects are capable of delivering the intended benefits in accordance to the exit time. This ongoing evaluation helps BIZ Experiencess avoid pursuing endeavors that have lost their relevance due to changing circumstances, in accordance with their exit time.

Dealing with changing circumstances

In BIZ Experiencesship, changing circumstances are inevitable. Both internal and external factors can continuously impact the relevance of a business case and the BIZ Experiences's ability to achieve the intended benefits within the exit timeframe. These factors may include shifts in market conditions, technological advancements, regulatory changes or unforeseen events that disrupt the original plan. BIZ Experiencess must remain vigilant and adaptable, ready to respond to these changes as they arise.

Sometimes, these changing circumstances may even trigger the need for an early exit. In such cases, it's essential for BIZ Experiencess to avoid the temptation to struggle on, trying to keep the business afloat at all costs. I suggest that BIZ Experiencess remember they are not heroes; they are pragmatic project managers. The goal is to exit the venture with a recoverable loss and contain the leak of valuable resources in a timely manner, rather than allowing the situation to deteriorate further.

This approach emphasizes the importance of making strategic decisions based on current realities rather than clinging to outdated plans. By being willing to exit early when necessary, BIZ Experiencess can preserve their resources and focus on new opportunities that may offer a better chance of success. This mindset also helps BIZ Experiencess avoid the emotional toll and financial strain that can result from prolonged struggles in a failing business.

Related: Planning Your Exit Should Begin When You Launch

In conclusion, I suggest that BIZ Experiencess shift their mindset from being heroic figures who endure endless struggles to pragmatic project managers who view their business endeavors as temporary projects with specific goals. By focusing on the time-bound and relevant aspects of their business case, BIZ Experiencess can ensure that their efforts remain aligned with the intended benefits. When circumstances change, BIZ Experiencess should be prepared to exit early if necessary, prioritizing resource preservation over prolonged struggles.

Ultimately, success in BIZ Experiencesship comes from strategic decision-making and adaptability, not from being a hero. BIZ Experiencess who adopt this pragmatic approach will be better equipped to navigate the challenges of business ownership and achieve their goals more efficiently and effectively.

Majeed Javdani

BIZ Experiences Leadership Network® Contributor

Principal Quality Auditor

Majeed Javdani is a distinguished expert in quality management and has extensively worked on tailoring and integrating ISO standards. He is the co-founder of Conformity Systems Corporation, a quality management firm that leads the innovative process of conformity streams.

Want to be an BIZ Experiences Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Starting a Business

These Brothers Started a Business to Improve an Everyday Task. They Made Their First Products in the Garage — Now They've Raised Over $100 Million.

Coulter and Trent Lewis had an early research breakthrough that helped them solve for the right problem.

Franchise

How to Prepare Your Business — And Yourself — For a Smooth Exit

After decades of building your business, turning it over to someone else can be emotional. But with the right mindset and a strong plan, it can also be your proudest moment.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for BIZ Experiencess to pursue in 2025.

Franchise

10 No-Office-Required Businesses You Can Start for as Little as $5,000

With strong Franchise 500 rankings and investment levels starting under $5,000, these brands are ready for new owners to hit the ground running.

Business News

Here Are the 10 Jobs AI Is Most Likely to Automate, According to a Microsoft Study

These careers are most likely to be affected by generative AI, based on data from 200,000 conversations with Microsoft's Copilot chatbot.