Small
Business Tools and Resources
Navigating the Floodgates of Advice
by Terri Lonier, President, Working Solo, Inc. (www.workingsolo.com)
Tell your family, friends, and colleagues that you're
launching a business, and a remarkable thing happens: everyone
turns into an expert, willing to tell you how to run your new
enterprise. Even Aunt Sally, who has zero entrepreneurial
experience, now considers herself the voice of authority on
your fledgling operation. This seems particularly true if it's
an Internet-based business, because, hey, Aunt Sally has an
email address, right?
All this well-meaning advice can make your head spin. Ask six
people you know for their feedback, and the likelihood is that
you'll get six very definite - and divergent -- opinions.
So how do you know which ideas to take to heart and which to
ignore? Let me offer what may be the best piece of advice
you'll ever get: Get clear on the distinction between
receiving advice and acting on it. Just because someone has
given you advice, it doesn't mean you have to follow it.
Yes, you can listen to advice. Heck, you can even actively
solicit it. But when it comes to making the final decision,
never forget that you're the business owner. The final
responsibility - and resulting consequences - all reside with
you.
What gets so many soloists in trouble is that we don't know
how to navigate the floodgates of advice-givers. We get sucked
into the strong currents of ideas and personalities, and often
feel as if we're drowning. Here are some tricks to stay
afloat.
* Acknowledge the advice-giver.
When someone gives you an idea or piece of advice - no matter
how wise or foolish - look them in the eye, smile, and say
"Thanks for sharing your ideas. I'll give them some thought as
I make my decision." Even if you instantly know you'd never do
what they're suggesting, it smooths over the conversation in a
respectful way. Your response, of course, is also true, since
you will think back on all ideas, both inspired and discarded,
when you make your decision.
* Keep an open mind to every idea.
Try to find merit in even the zaniest ideas. Sometimes the
contrast between a "not a chance" idea and one that's a great
solution can jog your brain to new levels of creative
thinking. Give every idea a space in the pool of
possibilities.
* Try to capture every idea.
Jot them down in a notebook, on tape, on your computer, or
with another digital note-taking device. Even though they may
not make a lot of sense right now, you may discover synergies
later. It's also great fun to look back and see how many ideas
- even just small bits and pieces - end up being important
stepping stones to your business growth.
So let the flood of ideas and advice wash over you. Just don't
let yourself drown in the obligation to follow through on each
of them. Acknowledge them all, but choose the best. After all,
you're the one who's the president, CEO, and chief of your
solo business. The advice-givers will come and go. You want
your business to stay for a long time.
Copyright 2004 Working Solo, Inc. All rights reserved.
Past Terri
Lonier Articles
Bio Note:
Terri Lonier is a business coach who guides business owners on
how to generate greater profits -- and have more fun – while
running your company. One of the nation’s most respected
authorities on self-employment and entrepreneurship, Terri is
author of five books, including the classic startup guide,
“Working Solo.” Her work has been featured in the New York
Times, the Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Fast Company, Inc.,
and on CNBC, CNN/fn, and radio stations around the world. You
can learn more about Terri and her Pathfinder Coaching Program
at her Working Solo Web site, http://www.workingsolo.com
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