In doing what I do, I get an up-close look at many business owners and see their results over years of doing what they do and how they are doing it.
In my experience, for the ones who are struggling, learning how to do this or that better is not going to help them too much. It’s unlearning that would make a bigger difference. It’s for them to STOP doing something they are doing that is killing their business progress.
Since it almost always involves them personally, who they are being, and the decisions they are making, it’s hard to tell them and even harder for them to hear it. They usually hate you when you tell them they are screwing up, even if you are gentle and tactful. Everyone defends their ego.
Hard to hear – You’re being a bully. You’re a pompous ass. You are immature on many levels. You have not studied even though the playbook was put in front of you. You tried to reinvent what works – and it’s not working. Your personal life is a wreck and great people won’t follow you. You are not setting a good example. You think you are better than others and they can tell. You have the title but you are not doing the work (well). You don’t understand money. You are a know-it-all so you are unable to learn. Your small success has gone to your head – and you can’t go farther because of it.
I have seen some real train wrecks. They often go out of business.
In these cases, learning a new skill is not going to help those leaders. They have to unlearn something they are doing – maybe a lot. A new attitude, a new approach, and mastering themselves has to come first.
I have much work to do, but it is work that I am going to do.
That is such good wisdom and advice. It applies to our personal lives as well as business. Thank you for speaking the truth. I appreciate your heart and your desire to help others. May God continue to bless you!
You cannot see the new facets of world through an old lens. The hardware has to be updated; new software won’t fix a broken system. Many ways to put it, but the message is clear! Self work comes before all else.
Well said. There are folks who are humble and those who will be humbled by life. Your choice which approach you subscribe to
I work daily to be better than I was the day before! I’m a constant work in progress!
Many business owners allow their egos to get in the way. If they would just hire a general manager and invest $100K in this person, that person has the ability to grow the business by 25% or more with fresh ideas and leadership. Leaders that have been in business for 25+ years have stale leadership and struggle with simple tasks like a holiday meal for employees. Bring in fresh leadership and watch your business grow!