"I can do it myself"

My granddaughter Trudie just turned six.

She's now at that age that when you show her anything... try to help her do anything... or suggest she try something differently... the adorable, precocious little six year old looks me straight in the eyes and tells me, "Grandpa, I can do it myself."

I seem to remember my own children saying that to me at various times throughout their lives. If I go back far enough, I can probably remember saying it to my parents.

There's a natural desire and tendency for people to want to do things their own way.

It's how we learn. And everyone, at some point in their lives, relies on this approach that we fondly refer to as "trial and error." Trial and error describes my learning process when it comes to computer software. I'd never dare read a manual. Taking a computer class would only confuse me. So I play and play and play until I finally can say, "Got it!"

The problem with a do-it-yourself trial and error approach when it comes to business is that it can be a dangerous path to follow.

While you may ultimately solve your problem... while you may ultimately learn how to do it... the cost of your learning curve in both time and money could far outweigh the cost and benefit of turning to a professional to get it done properly and a whole lot faster.

As a business coach and consultant, I see this phenomenon far too often.

Case In Point!

Recently, at a chamber of commerce event, I chatted with a young man just starting a new business. He and partners have a very viable business idea and model. I believe that it could ultimately be extremely successful.

One of the first things I learned from my young friend is that they're having difficulty getting the right kinds of leads... and enough of them. He took time to describe to me what they're doing, what is working (very little), and what's not.

I offered to meet with him... talk to him... point him in the right direction. I recommended one or two events that would be helpful for him to attend... and volunteered to arrange and meeting with a one of the most highly respected authorities on lead generation. "No," he said, "I think we have it covered. We've been trying different things."

Pay Attention To The Real Value!

When it comes to business -- either startups or those in a rapid growth mode -- you don't have the time... and most don't have the money... to live through all the trials and errors that could come our way.

But you do have a telephone and that telephone can lead you to an expert with answers... to an industry authority, professional, coach, consultant, or advisor who can save you thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of time by doing nothing more for you than saving you from becoming sidetracked or stuck in a do-it-yourself trial-and-error learning curve.

Instead of wasting time on your learning curve, you'd have time to book more business. In the end, that would be substantially more important than saying, "I can do it myself.

© 2007 Gil Effron

The "Busy" Trap

Being busy is a trap.

Being very busy –– so busy that you can’t take time to work on your business –– is an even bigger trap.

When you don’t have time to think… to plan… to organize… to work out ways to accomplish more in less time and with less effort… and when you don’t have time to think about how you can make more money or take a day with your family, you are in a crisis mode.

There’s only so long a person can live at a pace that is so demanding and all consuming. Ultimately, something has to give. A 12-ounce glass holds only 12 ounces of liquid.

As with almost every problem, there are solutions to this one as well.

The first step is a willingness to change… to look for ways to do what you’re doing better and more efficiently.

Many people can’t get passed this because they can’t visualize how to do it differently or better. They add it to their list of personal to-dos that is already too long – the list that somehow never gets shorter.

When they are willing and able to step outside of believing that they must personally solve this problem and engage the services of a coach or mentor, things can and do change. The mere activity of sharing and discussing business challenges is often all that’s needed as a catalyst for significant change.

When that coach or mentor helps keep the business owner or professional focused and on track, things invariably take a turn for the better.

It all comes back to willingness on the part of the business owner or professional to change. If you can say, “I’m willing to change” (or even “I think I’m willing to change”) you can change.

© 2007 Gil Effron