Guilty secret admission: I’m an #IdAddict. (If you’re one yourself, comment below… just so I know it’s not just my Mister and me.) However, there’s a certain aspect of these true crime shows that’s really grating my nerves: the lack of responsibility / accountability / choice assigned to people depicted in the stories.
“She was forced to resort to prostitution to support her drug habit.”
“He was forced underground to find gay sex partners.”
The same sort of “They / it / You made me do it” mentality is alive and well in business as well. “I was forced to lower my prices and now can’t make a profit.” or “There’s NO ONE willing to work. I’m forced to take whatever’s available.” or “My industry dictates my hours.”
In this month’s WOWMonthly, I discussed this issue of CONTROL in business. Truth be told, there are few things unable to be bent to OUR will in our business… we simply don’t try. The business owners we ENVY and (should) seek to EMULATE are those that defy industry norms and exert control over their hours, their pricing, and their positioning in the marketplace. (By the way, these three things are INTIMATELY entwined: when / how much you work (hours), how much you can charge (pricing) and how many people are lined up demanding your attention (positioning.)
It’s a good exercise to make a list of what circumstances, situations, or realities you’ve “accepted” in your business as something you are FORCED to endure or do…. and look at EACH with a fresh pair of — defiant — eyes.
You’re the boss. Make your own rules. Exert control EVERYWHERE you can…. if you want to create an IDEAL business.
