I've discovered an interesting 'phobia' amongst business owners – arithmophobia or numerophobia. It's the fear of numbers and it's seems to be in epidemic proportions. According to a 'phobia' site I recently found it's generally accepted that phobias arise from "a combination of external events (i.e. traumatic events) and internal predispositions (i.e. heredity or genetics). Many specific phobias can be traced back to a specific triggering event, usually a traumatic experience at an early age" (http://common-phobias.com/Nume…..phobia.htm). Maybe that's entirely valid for some business owners, but then as a business coach I don't really dwell on the cause, more the effect.

And the effect of course of this prevalent business phobia is a total blind spot around the financial status and performance of the business, a business that owners often spend most waking hours concerned about. Without the numbers (financial, marketing, client and team related) there is no meaningful basis on which to make business decisions.

And those numbers I do see are produced by Accountants for annual returns. Data that's historical and very often 18 moths old. Come on, no small/medium size business can make meaningful decisions on change based on data that is outdated. The reality is that cashflow is the lifeblood of business and in small/medium ones, that can run out way before the annual returns are even thought of.

How do you measure your numbers, what are you measuring and how are you using them?

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