We all know our businesses right? We live them every day and see them as straightforward. Most likely, we think they make sense, we think they are understandable and we think everyone who shops with us understands the business.
How would you explain your newsagency business to someone who has never seen one before?
By explain, I mean explain fully so they understand the business just from your description – no photos – and its place in the retail mix, the service it provides and the necessity for this. How would you explain its relevance? How would you explain its future? How would you explain why you own it, what it means for you?
I was involved in a business workshop recently where I face the same question. It’s tough to do, to explain your business with only your words and with the person listening having no reference point whatsoever other than what you say.
The explanation you will likely result in you thinking about and seeing your business differently. This is the goal of the exercise – to dislodge the everyday view and dig underneath for what we are not seeing every day.
How we see our businesses today can be useful in considering our future.