We all try our hardest to make what we do look easy. We smooth off the rough edges. We stick to the script. We plan incessantly until everything’s perfectly timed to the second. We’ve got the whole thing down to a science. But, maybe we don’t have to. Would it be just as impressive if some of the warts remained? …
Not Broken
Knowing exactly what we’re doing is a wonderful feeling. Being in the groove. Muscle memory. Following procedure. But our well-worn routine can also be a place for us to hide. Instead of going out on a limb, trying something different, or being edgy, we simply fall back on what’s already working. “If it’s not broken, why fix it?” we ask. …
Jump Into Business
Too many small business owners can’t make the jump. They get stuck in the “it’s my business” mindset. Even though they’re growing, expanding, and hiring new employees, they just can’t make the shift. They keep doing the same work that got them where they are now. They’re answering the phones, they’re sending the emails, they’re cooking the meals, cleaning the …
Guilty as Charged
We’re all guilty of concentrating all our efforts on bettering our product: the thing that we’re selling. Whether we’re selling a service (acting as a real estate agent) or delivering a product (like a home inspection report), we put a tremendous amount of energy into making sure that we’re providing the best product possible. And we’re doing it all wrong. …
Boring
Being boring pays off. Yes, I know that seems like a stupid thing to say. After all, who wants to do/see/hear the same thing, over and over again? Our customers, that’s who. Our repeat clients pay us because they want what we’re offering. They know what they’re going to get, they’re happy with what it is, and they want the …
Feeding Your Ego
Customers are the lifeblood of our business. (Especially when times are tough,) we can’t afford to lose any good ones. So, why do some business owners go out of their way to prove to their paying customers that they know more than their customer do? Feeding your own ego may be satisfying in the moment, but it doesn’t feel better …
Winning the War
Running a business is often compared to being in a war. We’re fighting against our competitors, each of us trying to win the fight for market supremacy. We think that the opponent is our competition are that we’re going into battle with them to win the spoils of war (all the customers). In reality, the fight is much closer to …
Up In Flames
Once we’ve been doing something the same way for an extended period of time, it’s inevitable that things are going to get boring. We notice it. Other people notice it. Our customers notice it too. We start to phone it in. Going through the motions, it’s commonly called. The beginning of the end is what we should call it. It’s …
Following Rollo
Freedom does not come automatically; it is achieved. And it is not gained in a single bound; it must be achieved each day. Rollo May in Man’s Search for Himself This quote tells us that freedom is not given to us, it must be earned. Constantly. The same thing can be said of business success. Far too often, we chase …
Distracted
All too often, we find ourselves distracted. Distracted by our massive to do list. Distracted by bright, shiny objects. Distracted by things that waste our important time. Distracted by the small stuff. Distracted by all the things we think we need to do. We have an amazing ability to forget everything important and become distracted by the trivial things that …