Business Advice – It only matters what happens next…

Every now and then, someone gives you a piece of business advice that, at that moment, just makes so much sense to you that it sticks. 

One such piece of business advice I received was “it only matters what happens next”. I like it so much that I want to share it with you. There are moments in business – and in life – when things don’t go your way. Don’t cry over spilt milk. It only matters what happens next.

Exactly what does that mean? In most situations, you can’t hit the ‘undo’ button and start again. What has happened, has happened. You are where you are and the past is the past.

What you do from here determines the outcome. Take this real-life example. 

Client A is well behind budget at the half-way point of the financial year. What should they do?

The definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing and expect a different result. So, clearly, they need to do something. Dwelling on the result of the first six months won’t achieve anything. 

Client A needs to determine what to do next. The keyword in that sentence is ‘do’. 

That isn’t to say H1 results should be ignored. They shouldn’t. An examination H1 will yield some clues but won’t change the result. Only action will change Client A’s future results. 

If you have read a lot of our business advice material before, by now you will know that the result is a symptom of something or a number of things that you have or have not done. Tracing the symptom to a root cause holds the key to unlocking better results. And there is no better way to do that than to use the ‘5 levels of why’ technique.

How can you apply this principle in your business? Track down the root cause and then take action.

The speed that you move past moments of failure (or triumph for that matter) and take corrective (or progressive) actions determine how quickly you move toward the desired outcome. 

Learn to see these challenges as opportunities to improve – embrace them – knowing as you do that it only matters what happens next. If you feel stuck and are looking for business advice, pick up the phone and having a discussion with the BridgePoint Team.

It only matters what happens next and maybe that is where we can help you.

Contact our North Sydney office on 1300 656 141 or via email – info@bridgepointgroup.com.au for genuine business advice.