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How To Get The Good Advice You NeedDocument
It has been said that entrepreneurship is the loneliest profession. As an entrepreneur, you need broad shoulders, as “that is where the buck stops”. You are responsible for the success or failure of your business enterprise. When you get to a fork in the road, or a decision point, how can you know what will lead to success or what can cause failure? You are not a big company with a Board of Directors that you can turn to for wise advice. What can you do? Who should you ask?
Accountants may advertise that they offer business advice. They may be a good accountant, but a miserable business person. Maybe they are qualified to offer tax and accounting advice, but have a long way to go to be a good business person and running a good business. Attorneys may also offer business advice. However, by training and by their licensing, they are only qualified to give legal advice.
A business owner is not all knowing and all powerful, so where can you get the answers you need to run a successful, profitable, and enjoyable enterprise? Your tax dollars are at work, and the Government has a multitude of overlapping and competing organizations that claim they can give you wise advice. Some of them are staffed with ex-employees who have no experience with business ownership. Some are staffed with retired business persons from “big” business, who try to help, but have the wrong background. Why is that? Let me explain.
While the basics of business are the same for small, medium, and large business, the approach is far different. People from big business have a big business approach to business, and have a difficult time trying to relate to the person on the street. They are used to big budgets, big campaigns, big support, and cannot fathom the plight of the small business person because of their background in big business.
Fortunately, starting and running a business is like having and raising a child. People have done it before, and have even documented their experiences. This means that market tested and proven solutions to your questions are available, by those who have “been there and done that”.
Finding a business coach is not a sign of weakness, or for people who can’t do the job; it’s for people who want to do a better job. It is a sign of good judgment and understanding that you know your strengths and areas for growth, and have a recognition that you are human and have limits. This means that you are most wise in your quest for advice and counsel because you look to do a better job and continue your success.
Choosing someone for advice can be as daunting, scary, and risky as walking across the gym floor in high school to ask that hot person to dance. So, let’s take the risk out of this by asking, “What do you want?” You would be best served by someone who has been in business a while and is still in business today, dealing with the vagaries of the economy, competition, and changing consumer desires. You also would want someone who, not only can relate to your situation, but who has the ability to offer you good ideas, and has a history of successful small business coaching. Dealing with someone like this can be most rewarding and fulfilling for you.
So, what are you waiting for? The best way to solve a problem is to avoid it. Likewise, there are conditions brewing, right now, that can have a profound effect on your business. Wouldn’t it be best to be prepared for them in advance, so you will not fall prey to some adversity?
Remember this: The only person who can improve your business and help keep it successful, is you. Isn’t it time to get the advice you want to insure your long term business success?
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