Your customers see it. Your employees do, too. So what’s “It?”
Over the past months I’ve seen several entrepreneurs trying to squeeze into the old, worn pants they know, but which no longer fit. However, unlike the kid who’s ashamed of his appearance, these entrepreneurs think they look dashing.
Customers don’t want to embarrass him, so they quietly go elsewhere. His employees try to tell him, but he knows better, so they shrug and go back to work.
“My employees don’t see the full picture. If they had to juggle all the competing priorities the way I have to, they would stop complaining. They should focus on doing their jobs and let me do mine.”
And so the waist gets tighter and the cuffs further from the shoes.
He adds suspenders, elastic or even duct tape. Anything but a change.
It’s true that your employees don’t see the full picture the way you do. And they don’t have the same pressures and responsibilities you have. But they do see you and your behavior with a clarity you may lack.
If you find that you’re always super busy, feel pulled in a million directions, fighting one crisis after another, you’re not wearing the right size pants.
I remember coaching a small business owner who continued to fall back on “the pants” he knew so well: moving sacks of cloth from here to there. He should have never have been doing such insignificant work.
But when it came to doing what would grow his business, make it fun and give him the personal freedom he deserved and badly wanted, he was murky. My job was to help make those tasks just as clear; to help him find and wear a new pair of pants that make him look and feel good.
What are the symptoms? How do you know if it’s time?
- If you have a frequent feeling of being pulled in a thousand directions and you’re unable to invest big chunks of time in high value work.
- If you’re unable to find or keep good employees.
- If you have difficulty attracting a steady flow of customers who want your products because they see you as distinct and better in some way.
It’s a part of growing: We all need a change from time to time.
Scary scary scary! The most recent change in pants size for me was a shift in thinking a long time in coming. The shift was recognizing my perfectionist habits that were keeping me immobilized. Now I try to focus on the next couple of steps instead of the finish line. I’ve seen a huge difference in my focus and productivity. But admitting this to myself initially took stomach churning guts. And then stoping myself from falling into the old habits- well, I’m still working on that one.
Hi Dina,
Why scary? Exciting!
In a few weeks we’ll be launching “The Alchemist
Entrepreneur’s Crash Course in Advanced Management Skills.” Leading up to it, I’ll be sharing some of the best material from the course, including a powerful “structure” from our module on getting more done yourself – and through others.
Thanks for sharing your “new pants” experience.
Dov Gordon