Do you ever wonder why some people are great at getting companies to pay on time? And others are not so successful? 

One may argue that it comes down to the organizations they are chasing, as some are better at paying compared to others. They may add that it depends on how good the market is at the time. If the company is doing well and has sufficient funds to pay.

There are other factors to consider when it comes to getting paid. For example, is the product or service essential to the customer? Did the company deliver what they promised and meet the customer’s needs? Or is there a dispute to be sorted? Last but not least, how easy is it to get hold of the accounts payable team?

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As someone who is self-employed for over 25 years, I can vouch for all the great reasons for running your own business. The freedom of being your own boss, deciding your own hours and selling something that you whole-heartly believe in, are sound motives for setting up a business.

Over the years, I have also noticed that many people are unaware of the reality of starting a business. Just like an infant child who needs extra care and attention in their early years, the first few years of running a company can be very busy and quite taunting at times.Yet, it is hugely rewarding too. 

Sometimes people in start-ups tell me “It’s slower than expected”, “It’s really hard”, or “It’s taking more time and effort than planned”.

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How many times have you started your day with a plan to get so many tasks done? You have a list of goals. Still, by mid-morning you notice your day has started to go in a different direction?

One may argue that some days are better than others. You get most jobs completed and naturally you feel great about it. 

Nevertheless, there are times when your priorities go out the window. You encounter endless interruptions from other people, as they snatch five minutes here and ten minutes there throughout your day. By evening, you are shattered and you wonder where your day went?

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Have you ever noticed that in today’s world, we often strive for perfection? From a shapeless carrot to the book with an upturned corner, everything we purchase needs to be shiny, flawless or new?

Now, I firmly believe we need to put our best foot forward and strive for excellence when we do something. It’s also good to set ourselves high standards and encourage others to reach their potential. 

Still, if we stand back and logically think about things, we will realise life is not perfect. No one is without flaws, so we need to learn to accept them. Better still, we need to look for ways to embrace them.

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When it comes to service recovery, I sometimes wonder how many organisations have actively mapped out a strategy for their business?

Naturally, there are some who are very customer focused and will have clear guidelines in place. They will have trained their staff and established the necessary steps to deal with difficult or “out of the ordinary” situations.

Still, I am sure there are others who are not so prepared. They may be busy growing the business, developing their product line and servicing customers. So, when situations arise, they are dealt with on a more reactive basis. 

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