Do You Believe?
For all entrepreneurs, business is personal – no matter what we say! Once we accept that statement, we are forced to face an uncomfortable truth – as important as it is to make a living, there are some things that are more important.
In the course of almost 20 years in business, I’ve faced many trials. In looking back, the times where I felt the worst, the times when I was at my lowest, were not the times when it was hard to make ends meet. They were the times when I took on a job that I shouldn’t have taken, because I needed the money.
I had to ask myself – why was I having such a hard time starting this job, or staying on schedule? It was because I didn’t believe in either the project, or our ability to deliver given the constraints.
Eventually, this becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy. If you don’t believe in what you’re doing, you’re not going to do your best work. Dread leads to procrastination, which makes dealing with difficult projects even more difficult.
This holiday season, give yourself a gift: make some New Year’s Resolutions that go something like this…
I Will Support Causes I Believe In, even if they’re not always popular or extremely profitable.
I Will NOT Support Causes I DON’T Believe In, no matter how profitable they are.
I Will Believe What My Data SAYS, not just what I WANT to be true.
I Will Believe What My Customer DOES, not just what they say (the two won’t always match up).
I Will Speak Up When Something’s Not Right. Because you’re not doing anyone any favors by remaining silent just to avoid conflict.
I Will Be Prepared to Walk Away from A Bad Deal. You may feel like you’re leaving money on the table, but that’s better than leaving your dignity on the table!
I Will Sacrifice Today’s Needs for Tomorrow’s Goals, so you aren’t making bad decisions based on scarcity. Put yourself in a position where you aren’t pressed for time or resources.
It may take a month, or a year, or 20, but trust me…you’ll be glad you did.
Contact us if you need help fulfilling your resolutions!
I Love You, But…You Know You’re A Piece of Work!
Dear Clients:
2015 marks the 20th year since I walked into my last manager’s office and laid my resignation on his chair.
Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to work with hundreds of you in all kinds of businesses and organizations, from one-person operations to government agencies. Our relationship has given me a unique perspective on organizational behavior and, ultimately, human behavior.
I’ve had some of the most amazing experiences with you, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything. But I have to be honest…some of y’all are a real piece of work!
Come on, you know it’s true. Don’t get me wrong, I have my faults, but I’ve seen some really cringe-worthy behavior over the years.
I took the liberty of making a list…please bear with me…
Signs That You’re A Real Piece of Work:
Not Doing Your Homework – you often come to me in a panic, saying you need something urgently, but I get zero information. What business are you in? Who are your target clients? Who are your competitors? Where’s the content – text, photos, data? I want to help you, but give me something to work with here!
Being A Scope Creep – you sweet talk me into taking on your project, using words like “simple,” “easy” and “quick.” Once I’m committed, the situation changes radically. There’s a bus load of “oh by the ways” and “can you throw this in,” and “I’ve changed my mind.” The scope of work is ever-evolving, yet you expect for the price and schedule not to change. Who does that?
You’re Still Married to Your Old Habits – you ask for my help, but every time I recommend a change, you come up with a reason why you can’t make it. You said you wanted something new, why won’t you let me give it to you?
Shopping My Price All Over Town – you know I treat you well, why do you insist on always comparing me to other people? Especially the ones you see during those SuperBowl ads? And yet you’ll talk about what you spent on that fancy car or recent vacation. Where’s the appreciation?
Being Afraid of Technology – so many times you say, “I can’t” or “I don’t have time to learn” when it comes to using my online applications that could make our lives so much easier. I believe you can, and you should have more confidence in yourself. Take the time; you’ll thank me later.
Acting Like Chicken Little – a mentor of mine once said, “there are no design emergencies.” There’s no need to panic every time a change needs to be made or a deadline approaches. If you haven’t heard from me, it’s probably because I’m working on your stuff…and manic voicemails, emails and texts aren’t going to help me get them done any faster!
Like I said, we’ve had some great times together and I really care about you and I am invested in your success and the success of your business. I believe that honesty is essential to any relationship and I want us to work together for a long time. So here’s to 20 more years together and to our continued success!
Love Always,
Tony
P.S. I’d love to find out more about what’s going on in your world. Let’s talk about it sooner rather than later!
Running a business is an exercise in making the most of the resources you have. Often, we complain about not having enough time, not having enough money, or not having enough help. But in reality, the most precious resource you have, and the one that will make the biggest difference in your success is Peace of Mind.
How long does it take to come up with a great, game-changing idea? If you’re on vacation, reading a book, or daydreaming, it can take a split second. But if you’re constantly bombarded with phone calls, text messages, emails, social media, and meetings; when you’re continuously faced with problems, confrontations and following up behind people to make sure they do what they’re supposed to do…the answer can be hours, days, months…
Even when you have time, money and manpower, you can make bad decisions (or no decision) when your mind isn’t free to listen, observe, explore, and weigh options. You feel bullied by the world, and you will do anything to make the bullying stop, including:
- withdrawing from friends, business or social activities
- alienating those who try to help
- ceasing all advertising (why would you want more pesky customers?)
Engaging in avoidance and counterproductive behavior will only make the problem worse. The world doesn’t want to harass you…they just crave your expertise and assistance, and giving it to them benefits everyone!
Here are some way to get the Peace of Mind you need…
Exercise – walk, run, swim, kickbox, whatever gets you moving and takes you to a different place;
Simplify – de-clutter your home and work space, turn off your devices and just deal with one thing at a time
Be Outside – experience your surroundings and be distracted.
Have Fun without Guilt – whether you’re by yourself or surrounded with positive people, do things you enjoy and try not to think about all the other things that aren’t getting done (it will be hard at first, but practice makes perfect!)
Be Honest with Yourself about What You Can (and Want To) Do – we cram our schedule with tasks that can be delegated or rescheduled. Keep the highest priorities and the things you have the aptitude for, and parcel out the rest over time.
Remember, you’re important, too…you deserve Peace of Mind, no matter what else is going on in your life! Build time for it into your schedule, even if you have to tell people you’re in a “meeting.” You’ll be amazed at what a difference it makes!
If you’re like me, you have a love/hate relationship with exercise. I love the way I feel when it’s over. And when I work out consistently (along with proper nutrition, sleep and water) I love the results I achieve!
But AS SOON AS life interferes….or I feel like I’ve made “enough” progress…I slack off!
I think of myself as a pretty organized, disciplined person. But if I’m honest with myself, I have to admit that without a coach or accountability partner, I will fall right back into my old habits. When I work out on my own, I will quit when I get tired instead of pushing myself. If there’s a work deadline looming, I will skip it entirely. When I’m stressed, I will stuff my face with all kinds of (tasty, yet) fattening foods!
You’re probably the same way when it comes to promoting your business.
When you implement a good marketing campaign, it results in increased work and revenue….and you celebrate by coasting for a month or two. Then the work slows down. By the time you realize you have to kickstart the marketing again, business has slowed to a trickle. That isn’t a coincidence.
The only way to break the vicious cycle is to stay on the marketing wagon in the first place!
That’s where we come in.
Think of us as your personal trainer for business development – we can’t do all the work FOR you, but we will work WITH you to create the plan and tools you need, and be your accountability partner for performing the “exercises” required to reach your goals.
All you have to do is commit to being a full and active participant…but that’s the real trick, isn’t it?
We all have to start someplace – why not start right here?
As entrepreneurs, we like to believe in the “Myth of Singular Achievement” – that we can create our business from nothing, and build a thriving venture with only the strength of our ideas and the grit of determination to carry us through. I’ve tried this approach, and I’ve seen others try it, and it doesn’t work. After years of helping other entrepreneurs achieve success, there are 2 facts that I can attest to…
1. Good Ideas are a dime a dozen.
2. Nobody succeeds alone.
The best idea (and the best intentions) will not make an organization successful. Don’t get me wrong – it’s important, it’s the beginning of something, but it does not pay any bills. Your vision can inspire others to action, but your ability to follow through on that vision will be hobbled if you don’t have the resources to carry it through, or you are expecting it to pay for itself on your schedule. That’s a good way to create a vicious cycle of debt and desperation.
While the “lone wolf” narrative sounds good for press releases, the most successful individuals come to the table with resources to back them up. Not just financial resources, but qualified people who bring truth and value to the relationship – trusted advisors; a viable client list; a supportive spouse or parent. And even then, they make mistakes – they just have the wiggle room to recover from them. When you don’t, you just dig the hole deeper.
So what do you do if you’re already stuck?
1. Realize that doing more of what you’ve been doing is not the answer. The hamster wheel only stops when you get off of it!
2. Stop doing the things that don’t work. Whether it’s out of obligation or habit, remove yourself from bad situations and environments. Keep doing the things that do work.
3. Ask for help. For many of us, this is the most difficult step, but nothing changes until you take it.
We have a variety of resources to assist entrepreneurs in coping with challenges and elevating their businesses to a new level.
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