At the annual Superior, CO Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner in June 2012, Professional Carpet Systems (PCS) and owners Shawn and Anna Bisaillon were recognized as this year’s Independent Business of the Year.

Having been in this industry for over twenty years and having coached business owners for the last five years, I would have to say there are situations in which taking down the sign and closing the doors is not a bad idea.

Startling epiphanies can arrive from the strangest places. For example, I recently came across this consulting firm’s headline: “We Help with Accounting, Marketing, Management, Hiring and Staying Open.”

Over the past few months, I have been painstakingly outlining how to stop being a slave to your business by putting it on autopilot and building systems into your business.

We are all in the same boat. Like other businesses, carpet cleaners have been slammed lately with increased competition, declining revenues and much higher fuel and supply prices.

One of my coaching clients, Lisa Giesler, is an organizing consultant. She has a book called “My Life is a Mess.”

What is that first thought you have when you wake up in the morning? “I can’t wait to get to work, I am loving this.”? Or has come to, “How did I get myself into this mess?"