I recently worked with a woman who was just launching her
redesign business. When I had asked her why she thought she
needed a business coach she said that she was not ready to
begin her business, but wanted to be ready - with clients -
at the end of 90 days. As a business coach, one of the first
things I do with a new client is assess their business as it
stands today, in order to establish in which areas we need
to focus.
As we went over the assessment, I became more and more
puzzled as to why she wanted to work with me – virtually
every item listed under my “launching your business”
category had been successfully completed. In fact, she had
several items completed that I have listed under my “been in
business a couple of years” category!
So again, I asked her why she wanted to work with me – and
again she responded with – “because I am not ready.”
After very little conversation, it was obvious she was not
going to be ready any time soon. And it wasn’t because the
business aspects of her work were not covered; it was
because she was hiding behind her tasks – the things she
“had to do before she could possibly start her business”.
It is very easy to get caught up in the tasks of running
your business. Aside from the fact that you actually will be
designing for a client – whether you are doing real estate
staging or a room redesign - you also have to act as sales
manager, marketing manager, bookkeeper and administrative
assistant. Oh, and don’t forget web designer and public
speaker. So you put together your to-do lists, and you dive
in. And in, and in.
There is a reason that large companies have departments to
handle the various aspects of a business – because each
facet – management, accounting, sales, etc – is a full time
job on its own. But – especially in the beginning – we
typically don’t have the luxury to hire these tasks out, so
we take them on ourselves.
I have found that it is very easy to use the “business”
aspect of our work as a great big procrastination tool. It’s
not as though the individual pieces don’t have to be done –
because in fact they do – but the question to ask is “when”?
When do they need to be done? Is it really necessary to have
a 3 page full color brochure ready before you tell all of
your friends and neighbors that you are in business? Do you
have to have a full blown computer accounting software
program before you can accept a check for your services?
Hiding behind business tasks is a very easy thing to do. I
find that I do it most when the task I really should be
doing – the priority task - is a task that I just don’t want
to do. For me – of all odd things – it is often the task of
invoicing clients. One would think that collecting for your
services would be terribly exciting, but for some reason I
find the task tedious – and have to use all kinds of tricks
and techniques to actually find the motivation to do the
work.
I tried to impress upon my coaching client that she could
launch her business today! Right now! She could e-mail all
of her contacts, and let them know she was open for
business. She could call her five closest friends and ask
them to call their five closest friends. She could pass out
her beautiful flyers in her neighborhood this afternoon!
We also talked about how you never can be – nor should you
ever really be – ready. There is always something new to try
and something new to do – so have faith in what you have
done to date and get started now!
It turns out she was right after all – she wasn’t ready. And
she has yet to launch her business.
Copyright © 2006 Mary Larsen Designs, GrowYourDesignBiz.com
Do you want to use this article on your website or in your
newsletter? If so, you must use the following bio info: Mary
Larsen is the founder of
www.MaryLarsenDesigns.com
and
www.GrowYourDesignBiz.com
– where she helps you design your home
– or design and grow! - your business. She has been featured
on ABCs Extreme Makeover: Home Edition and is cited as an
expert in small business and design in various media
sources.
