Breakdown - pay attention to the essentials to avoid this costly event.

Breakdowns. It can happen. In fact, it happened to me, or shall I say, it happened to my car. But, it feels like a personal breakdown too. So why did this breakdown occur and what can I learn from it? Well to start, a key gauge in the car made it look like everything was fine. No lights were flashing, no check engine alerts. From where I was sitting, all seemed fine. Then yesterday, I heard this horrible knocking sound coming from the engine. Today, it broke down.

Personal breakdowns are similar to this. From the outside, everything looks good, or at least this is how you present yourself to others. That you've got it all under control. In fact people always say how in control you always are.  You are smiling at everyone you meet, no one knows that secretly things are being neglected in your life and you are approaching or are on the brink of a breakdown. Are you eating well? Are you getting enough sleep? Are you getting enough time to yourself and some r and r? Are you working out and are you taking your vitamins...the list can go on. But, these are some of the essential areas to keep your attention on in order to avoid break downs, personal ones at least. Also, everyone's essentials list is a little different. For instance, for me specifically, I would add to this list drinking enough water because I tend not to. I get dried out very easily and this depletes my energy. In order to do all the things I do in my life, keeping my energy is essential, so staying hydrated is a must.

Businesses can have breakdowns also. Again, there are essential functions that cannot be neglected or overlooked. Are you looking at your projected cash flows? What expenses are coming up? What leads do you have in the pipeline? What marketing actions are you taking everyday, weekly, monthly and yearly? Do you have a strategy on growing your business or you just winging it? Here again, the list can go on, but these are some of the essential ingredients for avoiding a business breakdown.

In all of these instances the cost of a break down is huge. So note my mistake and heed my advice. Make a list today of the essential things you need in your daily life, or at least regularly in your life for all areas, in order to stay at the top of your game and avoid having a breakdown of any kind. 

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