The Problem With “Right Answers”
January 23rd, 2013 // 12:20 pm @ Scott Manning
The problem with “right answers” is that there are always so many…so many options, directions, things to choose in our life that people get stuck in the search for finding the right life to live, the right business to build, the right customer to sell, etc. Instead of committing to a direction and then, living, building, selling – everyday.
That’s the dilemma with most businesses and their entrepreneurial leaders is that they never commit to the direction they want to go.
Now, this doesn’t mean that you don’t continue trying to improve, continue questioning the status quo, continue searching out more, better, different ways of doing things…but at some point you have to cease “searching” for a path and start adventuring down the path towards your goals and objectives.
The number one reason people hire consultants, me included, is that they are looking for certainty, reassurance, direction, and the “right answers”…
But – I’ll give you a little secret to all of that…what we, consultants, actually deliver is confidence to clients enough so that they are able to commit to pursue a specific direction.
Think about it, you know the saying, if you go forward three steps and take two steps back, over and over again and again, you don’t get very far do you. Yet the most critical trait of someone who achieves success to whatever degree they desire is their commitment and focus in a particular direction.
The feeling you will have once you settle into what you are doing is empowering. It can be transformational. Clarity is having focus on a specific direction.
This goes down into the concept of choosing your customers. I’ve spent the past three weeks teaching members of our Million Dollar Methods tele-coaching program how to take this concept and apply it to their specific business and marketing endeavors.
Deciding who the best customer is and then commit to going after them. This requires you to let go of other customers who are not your best ones.
Then you have to decide on an offer and that means you can’t be ambiguous to your customers what it is you want them to buy. You have to commit to selling them something. Not everything.
And perhaps most importantly, you have to direct your customers, give them opportunities to buy, create structure for them to follow. And you have to commit and decide upon price points and how to grow your business and many other things.
Everything you do in business and with your customers requires your decision and commitment. You’ll have a frustrating time trying to marketing to every customer available instead of niching, or in offering them endless options instead of specific things that match the needs of your ideal customers.
Just like consultants to business owners, Sales people act as this to their customers, they sell confidence in solutions, in directions, in their products and services.
Here’s the point I want you to take out of this…it comes from my favorite quote, maybe not of all time but certainly about life and business…if you want to be successful it happens like this:
“Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back — Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now.”
This quote from Goethe describes what it takes to be successful and live a life and building a business. You have to settle on a direction for your life and business and then get to work.
Realize that you don’t need “right answers” you need “your answers” about everything and then believe them and move forward.
My challenge for you is to write your “DIRECTION Statement” this week. The 1st month of the year is but one week away from being over. Make the most of it and the rest of the year…by having direction, your direction, and then without looking back, or starring in the rear view mirror take action, implement, be bold, aggressive, and pursue without reservations the direction of your dreams.
When you do this, you’ll have more fun, enjoy life, live with peace of mind, and watch opportunities unfold in your business…and your life.
Category : Blog
