Directions? I Don’t Need Directions!!
As you look back at the first few months of 2011, ask yourself these important questions:
- What is the road that you and your business have been traveling down?
- Are your profits up?
- Have you made preparations for your vacation this year?
- Can you afford to take one?
- If you’re not on the road you want to be on, the road of success and profitability, what are you doing about it?
- Have you pulled the proverbial car over to the side of the road to inspect it?
- Did you leave the directions at home, or have you stopped to ask for them?
“If someone is going down the wrong road, he doesn’t need motivation to speed him up. What he needs is an education to turn him around.” ~ Jim Rohn
Getting Good Directions
3 Reliable Sources
Why is it that as guys, (forgive me for generalizing, but I am a guy) we find it so hard to ask for directions? Maybe you haven’t thought about this before, but here are three sources within any industry that I’m sure will be willing to provide a little direction for you, if you only ask.
Your Vendors
Your vendors are the people that are selling you product, parts, equipment, software, or provide a service that help you run your business. If you go out of business, or decrease your level of business with them, it severely affects the road that they’re traveling on and where they’re trying to get.
They want to do whatever they can to help you grow your business, so don’t be afraid to ask for assistance with ideas, processes, or new products that will help you travel the road that you want to be on, the road to profitability and success. However, don’t insult your vendors and think they should offer everything they do for free.
Think about whether you would provide your service or product for free just because customers asked, and more often than not, the answer is probably a big NO. They should recognize their relationship with you as a customer, add value to you and your business, and price their products/services accordingly.
Pick out three or four vendors who you would like to have a better relationship with, and give them a buzz.
If they’re smart, they’ll listen to your concerns and help take you down the right road towards more success and more profitability.
Trade Groups/Chamber of Commerce
One thing I know is that each and every industry has one or more trade groups that work to bring people of like-mindedness together in an interest to share ideas, improve their respective industry, and often times make things easier by doing them with group power. Often, they offer great leadership from those who have grown and been successful in that respective industry.
Locally, your Chamber of Commerce is a great place to look for support or knowledge of people directly in your locale. Other trade groups or organizations may be at the State or National levels that tend to look at the bigger picture overall, but can nonetheless be very helpful for you to reach your goals. When you’re looking to get more involved, I recommend that you go into a trade group or your Chamber of Commerce with the goal of being a ‘Go-Giver’.
“All things being equal, people will do business with, and refer business to, those people they know, like and trust.” ~ Bob Burg
I encourage you to join (or recruit someone if you’re already a member) and share your ideas and experience with others in your industry…you’ll be surprised what you get out of it!
Trade Journals
If you’re reading an article from a trade journal or an online blog related to your industry, and you’re interested in learning more about what the article discussed, send an email or pick up the phone and call the owner/manager who is referenced in the article.
Most times, there will be contact information provided, and they would love to speak more about the article you just read and their business. Who among us doesn’t like to talk about ourselves, even just a little sometimes?
God gave us two ears and one mouth, so listening to someone else talk about themselves should be no problem.
Not only will it open up so many opportunities and ideas that we may have missed before, you might develop a positive relationship with the person you listen to.
I encourage you to look at your business, evaluate where it is at, decide where you want it to go, and then get directions from those who can help you get it there. May I recommend sharing the Linked2Leadership blog with others?
Why are you afraid to ask for help? Is your business on the right road for the rest of 2011? What challenges are you not dealing with because you’re afraid you don’t know how? Who can we trust to ask questions, without feeling inadequate about ourselves?
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Steve Goble is currently building a new venture
He works with small businesses and youth on leadership and team development
Email | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook
Image Sources: dotcominfoway.com
Related articles
- How to be a successful entrepreneur – making sure your business succeeds (premierlinedirect.co.uk)
- Why Joining A Chamber Of Commerce Will Increase Your Marketing Potential (bayintegratedmarketing.wordpress.com)
It is amazing to know that there are articles like this on web which actually takes the meaning of leadership to new aspect. Thanks for helping me out…
Thanks for the kind words Poul! Glad I was able to help and add value to your day!