The other night, Chris and I watched Escape Plan starring Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Essentially, Stallone’s character — a specialist that shows prisons how to be more secure — ended up being stuck in a prison of his own making. They read his books, implemented his ideas and created a prison that Stallone recommended. And, then… they imprisoned him inside.
I believe at this point in the article many people will know where I’m headed. Because they’ve BEEN “stuck” in a business situation they created. But it will be the WRONG “many.” You see, when you are stuck, you rarely realize the bars imprisoning you were built, cemented and maintained — by you. So, let me get specific. Here are some comments that STUCK business owners make most often… YOU fill in the blanks:
- But, I HAVE to ______________ in my industry. It’s just different with us.
- I know, but with MY industry, ______________ and ______________ are just expected.
- I hear what you’re saying, but with my business, _________________ is necessary.
- Yeah. I could do that but my clients would hate me for it.
- That would work well if I sold ______________, but with what I do, it just won’t work. People expect us to ________________.
If you are nodding your head and thinking I’m OUT OF TOUCH with YOUR specific industry or business, let me refer you to one of my mentor’s FAVORITE sayings, with is 100% true, 100% of the time:
Now, back to the reality in which we work: YES, all businesses and industries have their little “things” we have to work around. Insurance / financial marketing and sales efforts are HEAVILY monitored and governed. That’s frustrating. Compliance is a nightmare. Medical businesses have HIPPA and many additional industries have laws about how they can reward referrals, gift clients, etc. I get it.
But, I have personally worked with:
- chiropractors who have PROFITABLY turned the chiropractic model on its head… making more money, having NO appointments, and working with NO insurance companies.
- Real estate agents who refused to do open houses. EVER.
- Mortgage loan officers who refused to work after “standard” office hours. (No nights or weekends.)
- Financial planners and experts who did the same.
- physicians and therapists who went concierge, completely detaching from insurance issues, expenses and compliance!
- Veterinarians who took stands AGAINST vaccinations;
- and more.
Renegades. That’s what these people are called. They have the audacity to — as Ralph Waldo Emerson described — be “in the midst of a crowd, and keep with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.” They’re not ignorant. They look at and are aware of the norms. In a closed room with other renegades, they can often be heard chuckling at their colleagues who are STILL following a bunch to “HaVE TO” norms that they just simply decided to break.
It’s easier than you think… I promise. And if YOUR FOCUS is truly on SERVING your market, you’ll be shocked at how easily they release you from the prison of “industry norms.” So, why stay stuck doing things you really don’t want to do? Why stay stuck? Are you willing to build your business around YOU and what sets YOU up for success? Are you willing to give a one-fingered solute to YOUR industry norms?
If so, make a list of industry “norms” and highlight the ones you’d say, “I wish I didn’t have to” do anymore. Then, set out to break as many of them as you can — you know, without landing in jail.
