I have the privilege of being a Mom to 3 teenagers. Therefore, I shouldn’t need to tell ANYONE that I am an EXPERT in entitlement. =) All kidding aside, one of the highest barriers to success for the small business owner is his or her OWN sense of entitlement. Many times, when I’m speaking at someone else’s event, I run into business owners that — 3 minutes into a conversation — reveal THIS face:
They are MAD. Their prospects are cheap. Their prospects don’t know what they need. Their market is overrun with competitors. Their competitors are losers, but they’re making more money than themselves. They’ve tried lots of stuff and it’s not working.
Honestly, they may as well cross their arms, puff out that bottom lip, and stamp their little feet while repeating, “It’s not fair!”
Don’t giggle just yet, friend. I’m talking to YOU. Yes, you. And also to me. You see, we’ve all been there. We’ve ALL had moments (seasons, even?) of being that pouty entitled business owner.
It ain’t pretty but it’s true. Being in business for yourself is tough. If it were easy, none of us would find someone willing to accept a JOB from us.
Here’s the Tough Love Tuesday / Tuesday Truth:
Your market and your prospects owe you exactly nothing. What’s more: You deserve NOTHING but what you earn… not their attention, not their loyalty, not their time… and certainly not their business. It’s up to you… to EARN what you want.
If your prospects are cheap, consider your positioning and also where you are finding your prospects. Change something. It’s up to you. If your prospects don’t know how you can help them or what they REALLY need, this is your fault too. Educate them. It’s up to you. If your market is overrun with competitors, differentiate or die friend. It’s up to you. (Quick reminder: you ChOSE this particular industry, business, etc.) If your competitors are making more than you, this is a marketing and selling problem. Fix it. It’s up to you.
I am forever grateful to Steve Chandler who once said to me,
“No one is coming, Michelle. It’s up to you.”
This changed stuff for my business. It changed everything. So, listen… whatever challenge you have in your business, YOU are the owner. YOU must own the problem in ORDER to create a solution. It’s up to you.
