I don’t know about you, but I have been inundated lately with sponsored ads on Facebook. I can’t scroll through my news feed without at least 5-10 people or companies offering their promise to “fix my business”, or “show me how to make $15k a week with their ‘proven’ system”, or “take this quiz to see how my business stacks up”, or “check out this magic bullet.” Well, they don’t actually say that last one…
If we thought TV commercials were bad, just wait to see what social media is becoming.
The thing we have to realize, though, is that there has always been noise. This noise will never go away because every one – every single one – of us is looking for our/their piece of the pie. And, the fact is, whomever can tell the best story and connect with your pain points and emotions, causing you and me to pull out that debit/credit card, will win… whether or not they deserve your business, and are truly qualified to help.
They know that we are people who want a magic pill, a quick fix, an easy road.
And, if we were honest, many times they are right.
So, it will continue.
HOWEVER, the issue is not them and all the noise, the issue is actually… us. The consumer. We click, we fill things out, we try everything and anything, we lose focus, we spend way too many hours scrolling and scrolling and scrolling.
And before we know it we’ve just wasted a week, or a month, or another year with little to no progress.
So, how do we sort through all the noise? How do we find a company to help us with our business who is legit and actually has a track record of helping people find success without all the hype?
My answer may sound crazy, but it is this:
Work on yourself first before you go hiring anyone.
Maybe not the answer you wanted to hear.
But, I’ll say it again… work on you, before you go looking for them.
If you’re not ready for change, if you’re not ready to be committed to the work (because it will take work, no matter who you choose), if you haven’t purposed in your heart that you will be successful come hell or high water, all the companies in the world and all the promises they make will not be able to make the difference you are hoping for.
Don’t spend your money with any of them, hoping for them to be the one.
Step back and take a look at your business, and yourself, with fresh eyes and ask yourself these three questions:
1. What is the *real* thing I’m fighting against for my business success?
The real enemy is the one who makes you question yourself, and doubt your every move. It’s the monster breathing down your neck, telling you that you don’t know what you’re doing. Oddly enough, the biggest resistance to your success is you. And my biggest resistor to my success is me.
We are our own worst enemies when it comes to advancing our business.
I looked up the definition of an enemy and it is “a person or thing actively opposed or hostile to someone or something”.
But, wait… we’re not actively opposed to our own success, are we?
In fitness you know if I’m choosing to sit on the couch instead of exercise, or grab a bag of chips instead of vegetables, then yes, I’m actively opposed to my own success.
Same with you in business. If you choose to open your FB app and get sucked into everyone’s news of the day or videos they’ve shared, rather than spending 30 undistracted minutes working on your business; or you allow yourself to get paralyzed by fear instead of just doing one thing; or you allow yourself to be swayed by everyone else’s thoughts and opinions of the next move you should take in your business… then yes, you are actively opposed to your own success.
You see, it’s all about your choices.
It’s about deciding that you can do this. You will do this.
2. How much do I really want this?
Most business owners start their businesses by checking things off a list: find a location – check, buy equipment – check, get a website – check, but they don’t really take the time to dig deep to determine and purpose in their heart what they are willing to do to make it successful.
It’s important to understand that people don’t have business problems, they have life problems that reflect in their business.
Whether it’s lack of discipline, or disorganization, or the unwillingness to learn, or pride in not looking like you don’t have it all together, or whatever. Your attitude toward life determines your success as a business owner.
I heard one time that your business is like a mirror. Whatever habits and behaviors you display in yourself will be reflected right back at you in your business. 90% of the time the problem in your business is coming from your own personal life. Clean it up there and you’ll start seeing positive momentum in your business.
3. What patterns am I displaying?
I’ve been thinking a lot about something else I recently heard (can’t remember where) – “the majority of the time we are not the highest version of ourselves which we can imagine, but instead, we are the lowest version of ourselves which we can accept”.
That’s worth really digesting.
All too often we allow our insecurities and fears to keep us at the lowest place we’re willing to accept in ourselves.
It’s similar to a relationship – you will attract the lowest version of what you are willing to accept.
Lift your minimum standards of yourself, and you will begin to get closer to actually hitting your dreams.
In summary, here’s a word of caution: Before you go hiring someone and spending money that you may not have – whether it be a business coach, or a marketing firm, or yet another service that you are hoping will solve your problems – step back and take an honest look at you.
Don’t waste your hard-earned money. Only when you are ready to lift your standards of yourself and make any necessary changes to the current behaviors and habits in your life should you spend money on someone outside who promises to give you what you need.