I made a big-girl business decision this week! And I’m still a little nervous about it. All entrepreneurs, especially sole-proprietors, belabor the business decisions they make because our entire success does depend on it. I can’t blame anyone else but me if I made the wrong one. And I have made some wrong ones.
A year ago, I decided to join forces with a company called Homes for Heroes. It was a cool concept that fit right in with my “why”, to help people. They give cash back to “heroes” when they purchase a home. It’s done through a non-profit so it’s legit. The Real Estate commission does not allow buyers to walk away from a transaction with cash so this company came up with a work around using a donation to a 501c3. I especially liked it because their definition of hero extended to teachers, healthcare workers, and fire, police, EMT and military. But the program as an investment did not work out for me. I did not close one single hero in my first year, and I spent $150 a month to be a “member”. I made the decision to walk away from the program to save the monthly fee. But I did learn something! I truly believe the majority of people do business with friends, people they “Know, Trust, and Love”, before they even consider those types of programs. I decided to put all of my efforts into growing a referral business.
For things to change for you, first you must change.
~ Jim Rohn
The decision I made last week involves paying a little bit of money, actually quite a bit of money. Twice that of the failed, give-back program! But I can do it for half the time if I get into it and don’t see a true benefit. I’m not signing a contract, so that’s great!
I hired myself a coach! I’ve never done anything like that before! I danced my whole life. I had teachers and choreographers, not really coaches. I guess they sort of do the same thing. They want you to improve. They give you pointers on how to do things better. I just picture a coach as a person that yells and pushes, and I don’t respond to stuff like that. I’ve also worked in the management side with coaches who want to hold their agents “accountable” or they can’t be helped. It seems like it is motivated from a different spot than I ever really stand on. I’m not competitive at all. I don’t need to make a million dollars. I want to create a successful business, build a new house on my property, take care of my girls and my animals, but I don’t have to be rolling in dough to do that. Further more, I’m not going to work 80 hours a week. It is not even possible between #farmlife and #momofteenagers.
Furthermore, I am a “mentor” myself! That may be a favorite part of my management job. I really enjoy helping people get deals worked out and see their own success. They should feel cared for and supported in my “girl gang” (even though there is now 1 guy). Is it crazy for me to ask for help while I’m helping?
I have always believed that asking for help is a sign of intelligence, not weakness. I am smart enough to put in words or on paper what I need help with. Also, I am reflective enough to know that I need guidance. I am humble enough to know that I do not hold all of the answers. And I am smart enough to find the right person to help me. I had the option of many people. Even “free” people. I found it very important to find just the right person. I wanted a woman, a mother, and a successful entrepreneur. I needed someone that I could look up to, emulate, learn from. I was looking for someone that had a similar climb to the top as I do. No offense to men, but it is very different being a working mom or a “mom-treprepeur” than it is being a dad.
Do I need a coach? Maybe. Do I need guidance? Sure. Do I just need to talk to a person like me or like I want to be? Abso-freaking-lutely. I think we all do! Whether that person is in your family or your company or your church or your neighborhood, without guidance I feel like I’m flapping in the wind like a lost fabric of some greater piece. I search for guidance from many different places. I don’t think people can actually be better unless they spend time working on it.
southerngirlweb 