Page 40 - Tropic Magazine Issue 10

Tropic
Opinion

Darren Barber Megan Thomas Tim Cooke
Owner, Three Wolves Owner, Phyxme Physiotherapy Design Director, Tropic
It’s business time Happiness, how? The problem
F “ H A
nother year ticks by, no, flies by, and
appiness is the place between too
or over a decade, small business has
yet again I am left floundering on
little and too much”.
been a huge part of my life. More
often than not, it dominates my every For me, that ‘place’ is achieving a healthy the question, “What did I achieve last
move. The hours are long, the stress takes work-life balance. But that’s a concept I’m year?” For me, each December 25th sees
its toll and it’s just plain hard work. While sure most of us struggle with in our me commemorate another lap around the
I wouldn’t have it any other way, there are fast-paced world. And the reason it’s so sun and there is nothing like a birthday
many hurdles that make running a small hard to achieve? Our definition of compounded with a new year to amplify
business difficult. happiness is often what we think it one’s situation, one’s net position, one’s
Small business is a major player in our should be and not what it actually means trajectory.
local economy with the majority of for us. I’m not discounting our huge year at
employment relying on locally owned and Let me explain. Say for example you tell Tropic and the many successes we enjoyed
operated businesses. However, it’s yourself (or you let the world tell you) that or my delightful children and always
important to realise how hard it is to run happiness should mean sleeping in, impressive wife. I just feel I could have
a small business in the Cairns CBD. spending more time with the kids or done more. What am I missing?
Contributing factors include limited going to the gym every day. So, as with every year prior to this year, I
customer and staff parking, astronomical But in reality, what really makes you have come out swinging. Inspired by
rental prices, small population and happy is being successful in your career, self-help books, entrepreneurial listicles
customer base and endless red tape from staying at home doing nothing on and a healthy dose of New Year’s hubris
government bodies. Additionally, people weekends, or not going to the gym… ever. I’ve decided 2018 is the year we make it
regularly complain about a lack of variety It is this gap between your true reality big! I’m just going to need more...time.
in our small businesses, which forces and your perceived definition of The solution
customers into the online marketplace. happiness that makes your “happy place”
This has a significant snowball effect for seem unattainable. What I have come to understand is that
small businesses, as revenue decreases, as Self worth time is the greatest commodity of all, yet
does the ability to meet customer needs. We all need to feel some self-worth for it is finite and fixed. Time cannot be bent,
extended or added to however it can be
Buy local happiness. Without motivation and found. Therefore, I have devised and
How much attention do you pay to achievement (no matter how small), you implemented a winning strategy for 2018.
shopping locally? There are endless won’t find happiness. On the other hand, A strategy that will give me more time.
benefits. Local small business can offer if you never stop and reflect, or strive but I’m going to say no. A lot.
one-of-a-kind products and a tailored never reach unachievable goals or there Inspired by Warren Buffet’s quote “The
customer service experience that you are no limits to your goals, unfortunately difference between successful people and
won’t find online. Money circulated you won’t reach your ideal of happiness really successful people is that really
locally ultimately helps the community in ‘success’ either. successful people say no to almost
thrive and builds a strong network of For the majority of people, I believe everything,” I have come up with a
local funds, enabling individuals and happiness and work-life balance are strategy.
businesses to support each other. We as achievable goals, especially in Cairns with 1. Set a lofty goal and clear a path to
small business owners aim to reinvest our incredible lifestyle opportunities. achieve it.
revenue back into our businesses for the So, ask yourself this: What do I love 2. As all the people (who are hell-bent on
benefit of the customer rather than lining doing? What makes me feel special, achieving their own goal) come at me
our pockets. powerful, needed…happy? asking me for help make this assessment.
We are lucky enough to have so many Do I do these things? How often? Will it help me achieve my goal?
great small businesses in Cairns that we Whatever your answer, remember one of 3. Listen, smile and politely say no.
should all support and encourage their my other favourite quotes: “Happiness 4. Time found.
growth in the community. With people does not depend on what you have or who I estimate that with my sleeves turgid
power, we can make Cairns an even you are, it solely relies on what you with new-found time, 2018 will be my
greater place to live. Buying local, eating think.” year to shine. Follow this simple advice
local and drinking local are all key to our and you will shine too. Now, off to buy
city’s future success. shades.
MORE: threewolves.com.au MORE: phyxmephysiocairns.com.au MORE: tropicnow.com.au