Every year around November I go to my local coffee shop and I order a Pumpkin Spice Latte. The funny thing is, I don’t even like PSLs. I never drink those sweet syrupy coffee drinks. I’m more of a ‘straight cup of the bold roast with just a pinch of half and half’ kind of gal.
So why do I go out of my way to order, pay for and drink a beverage that I don’t even like? It’s my way of saying good bye to summer and welcoming the fall season into my life. It’s my tradition. I’ve been doing it most of my adult life and I look forward to it every year. I’ve thought about changing my order to something more suited to my coffee tastes or even asking the barista to tone down the syrup so that it’s not such a sickeningly sweet concoction but in the end, I don’t. Ultimately, it wouldn’t be the same experience and my tradition wouldn’t be the same one that I’ve come to lean on.
As I sat this year sipping my PSL I started thinking about traditions in business. We all have traditions in our personal lives and with our family. Some of my favorite ones are opening one single present on Christmas Eve or the annual family trip in the Spring to the garden shop to buy geraniums and other flowers to put in the pots around the deck.
But we also have, or should have, traditions in our businesses. These are the things that keep our business tethered to the ground. We all have policies and procedures, that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about the things that make our businesses feel more like a family than a company. These are the anchors that signal starts, stops and transitions in your business. They do many things;
Traditions promote inclusivity.
The best traditions involve the people you’re close to. Your team is your work family. They allow you and your employees to all come together either in person or in spirit.
They give your business a unique culture.
Let’s face it, many businesses look very similar. They have similar policies, offer similar services, cater to the same types of clients. You can use traditions in your business to make it different that every other similar business. And by doing this you stand out from the crowds.
They allow everyone to celebrate the ‘events’ in your business.
Maybe you hold a potluck at the end of the holiday season to say ‘goodbye’ to the holiday booking craziness and reset for the coming year. Maybe you welcome in new hires with a requirement that they sing a song in front of the whole team on their first day. Maybe you ring a bell in the staff office every time you sign up a new client. All of these things signal and celebrate a change or transition in your business.
As I sat, drinking my PSL, I thought about what traditions and rituals I had in my pet sitting business and I’m sorry to say I couldn’t think of any. I was focused on running the business smoothly and didn’t take as much time as I should have to start some business family traditions. Don’t pass up the chance to start a new tradition. They really are worth the effort.
Another great article you might enjoy
I’m a recovering corporate junkie – https://www.thepetbusinesscoach.dog/recovering-corporate-junkie/
About Eliza
Eliza is an experienced pet business owner with a specialty in pet sitting and dog walking businesses. As The Pet Business Coach, she offers coaching and resources to aspiring or current petpreneurs. She maintains an awesome blog for pet business owners https://thepetbusinesscoach.dog/blog-page/ and a practical podcast to help pet business owners excel and drive their business forward. Eliza and her husband live in the Appalachian Mountains with their furry and feathery family including cats, goats and chickens. Visit her website at www.thepetbusinesscoach.dog.
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