One of the biggest challenges, I find, for new business owners is for them to move from working in the business to working on the business. You are so engaged in building and selling your product or service that you "don't have time" to focus on strategy and the next round of changes for the business to survive and grow. The result is a business plateau that hits you like a ton of bricks.

As a business adviser, when I bring this up, at best I will hear the defense that you are focused on the strategy of the moment, such as such as how to increase sales, or reach a new market.

I have to admit that I have struggled with this myself many times, trying to understand all the dimensions of strategy, which has always seemed like an amorphous and overwhelming subject.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Inc.