166: Have You Taken Your Design Business As Far As You Can Alone
166: Have You Taken Your Design Business As Far As You Can Alone
with Michele Williams
Have you ever thought to yourself, “This is all I know how to do?” I have. And therein lies the opportunity to find someone who knows more than you do about that topic. And what you do next depends on the resources you have. Maybe you have lots of time, then you might want to investigate, listen to podcasts or read books – perhaps even take a course. But what do you do when you don’t have time, and you do have money as a resource? You invest in finding the right answer to fast-track you where you want to go. On the podcast today we are going to dig into the question, “Have I taken my design business as far as I can alone?”
Topics Mentioned:
Accountability
Growth
Coach
Success
Listen to the Episode
Remember that saying, “you only know what you know?” That is so true. Each of us simply knows what we know. And when we use that knowledge over and over – we keep getting the same things. To get something different, we must know something different and then try something different.
On most of the discovery calls I get, the simple statement uttered over and again is this, “my business is doing great – but I think I have gone as far as I can alone – I need help to go to the next level.” Does that sound like you? This can feel like being stuck or unsure of what to do next. Many feel like they have not reached their full potential – like there is so much more out there for them – but they don’t know how to grab it or go for it.
Let’s look at how to tell if you have reached the limit of what you think you can do alone.
Do you have dreams bigger than what you feel like you can accomplish with what you know and the resources you currently have?
Do you wonder what else can be accomplished and maybe you think you are dreaming too small?
Are there areas in your firm that you don’t have a grasp on, and don’t know how to manage them?
Am I even doing this correctly or is there a better way is a question you ask yourself frequently?
All of these are the types of questions that may make us consider reaching out for help. These questions can hold true for all aspects of your business: HR, marketing, finance, client management, etc. No one knows everything. We are all learning every single day. Knowing when we have reached the capacity of our knowledge is actually a gift that prompts us to determine if we are going to stay status quo or if we are going to ask for assistance to move forward.
After we determine that we are in need of knowledge outside of ourselves, the next question is this: what do I need? Now, I can almost hear some of you shouting at your phone or listening device something like this, “Michele, if I knew what I needed I would just go get it.” Ok – I get that. Just saying this, sometimes we know what we need and sometimes we are clueless. I remember when I knew that I had reached my personal capacity with understanding my marketing strategy. I hired a marketing coach to help me wrap my arms around what I had, what I did not and to create a path to gather what I needed. Did I know every step of this process before working with her? Nope – but I did know enough to identify that marketing was my issue.
When I recognized that I needed some strategy around my coaching practice, how to be a great coach and how to offer services that would meet client needs – I got a coach for that. There was plenty I did not even know that I needed – but I knew which area felt like a struggle for me.
Maybe you feel that too. An area of your company that you just don’t feel like you fully understand, and it feels overwhelming each time you even attempt to consider it. Listen to that prompting.
Once I knew what I needed – I considered how quickly I needed to solve the issue. Could it be something that I read a few books about, or could listen to a podcast, or take a do-it-yourself course. If I thought that was the answer – then that is what I did. Usually, I have a feeling about what I need – either it will be quick to get on my own with a little digging – or I usually know if I need a guide. Someone to get me there.
Just like your clients. Maybe they need something small in a room – nothing to call you about – maybe a small accessory or a new pillow or a candle. Fine – they go get those small items on their own. But when they are considering reworking an entire room or floor of their home, they know there is no way they want to do that alone.
The same holds true in business. When you are designing your business, it is like designing a whole home. And calling in those more experienced than you might be an investment, but it will also save you in the long run. Sound familiar? You all use this phrase all the time. You want your clients to call you, to share your expertise, to help them get what they might not be able to get alone. Working with the right coach at the right time does the same for you. Otherwise, the path to success could be very long and winding with a lot of starts and stops.
Another area to consider when thinking through reaching your max capacity is this – do you want to do this alone or do you want help? Having a mindset of being open to challenge and new ideas is a fantastic thing. It is so easy, in the busyness of our day-to-day, to get stuck in a rut of thinking. To have someone push you and prompt you and hold you accountable is a totally different way of working. And not everyone is ready for that. But I can tell you this when you have someone holding you accountable to get the work done that you say you want to do – you are 95% more likely to get it done. 65% more likely if you commit. 95% more likely if you meet with someone.
Knowing when you have reached your personal limit is empowering. It encourages you to reach beyond yourself and your team to get what you don’t currently have. Based on your need and the availability of time and money – your need might be solved in a multitude of ways.
Here is what I want to leave you with. You don’t have to stay stuck. You don’t have to stay and settle for where you are. You can get help. Identify what you need – then go looking for it. Ask others. If I can assist you, apply for a Discovery call. Keep growing and trying. You can find out more about my services by going to www.scarletthreadconsulting.com . Check out the resources tab. Create a mindset for success because profit doesn’t happen by accident.
Key Thoughts:
Each of us simply knows what we know. And when we use that knowledge over and over – we keep getting the same things. To get something different, we must know something different and then try something different. Michele (1:36)
No one knows everything. We are all learning every single day. Knowing when we have reached the capacity of our knowledge is actually a gift that prompts us to determine if we are going to stay status quo or if we are going to ask for assistance to move forward. Michele (3:40)
Having a mindset of being open to challenge and new ideas is a fantastic thing. It is so easy, in the busyness of our day-to-day, to get stuck in a rut of thinking. To have someone push you and prompt you and hold you accountable is a totally different way of working. Michele (8:02)
Knowing when you have reached your personal limit is empowering. It encourages you to reach beyond yourself and your team to get what you don’t currently have. Michele (8:44)
Contact Michele:
Facebook: Scarlet Thread Consulting
Instagram: @ScarletThreadATL
Website: ScarletThreadConsulting.com
LinkedIn: Michele Williams
References and Resources:
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