I make my living fixing and developing businesses and training entrepreneurs. On the training side, I have an exercise called 2 Truths and a Lie. In the exercise, people introduce themselves with 3 statements, 2 are true and one isn’t – the team must identify the lie.
So here’s a truth, for free …
There’s more than 1 way to grow your business.
In fact, there are dozens.
(Anybody who says there’s only one way – Run, don’t walk, in the opposite direction swiftly.)
Go to Amazon.com or a bookstore (some people still do this) – you’ll find hundreds of titles.
Family and friends will tell you, “Oh, just do this. It’s simple.”
And of course you have your own ideas because, after all, you started the business and you see the big picture.
But here’s another core truth:
Success is eliminating what doesn’t work.
You can start at the top of the list of titles, and keep trying till you eventually bump into it. You can follow the instructions of Uncle Will, who’s never built anything except debt.
Hopefully, you won’t get too tired or bruised or bankrupt in the process and quit.
Or you can get help.
—————————————Ok, now for the lie.———————————-
All help is the same.
Not even remotely true. Yes, there are mentors, peer groups, coaches, specialty consultants, assistance centers – a host of options. But until they can show you:
1. Proof that they’ve gotten results for other businesses similar to yours (as in, the same issues as yours)
2. A real way to identify where you need help (a way to figure out what’s broken instead of putting you in the same box as everyone else), and
3. An organized, clear way to deliver help to you …
They should NOT even be considered.
Most successful entrepreneurs understand how to get the help they need, but getting quality help is a different story. Even when they’ve retained assistance before and had a negative experience, they eliminate that solution and keep looking for better help until they find the right one.
Don’t postpone your success. Make every decision a proactive one.
You weren’t passive starting this business, so don’t be passive about your growth and development. Be intentional the whole way through.
In the spirit of intentional development, June 17-21 is National Small Business Week and I’m celebrating with 2 free events, one online and one live. Go here to sign up and join me.
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