Sometimes you just need to look under your nose for success

I had a meeting today with a really interesting guy who is running a business. I won’t go into what they do or his name just for privacy but he has a really interesting product that is doing well but could do really well.

He had been referred to me by someone else as they need some help with their marketing strategy and joint venture/affiliate process. Aside from this blog and other ventures my “day job” is working with companies to help them leverage the marketing opportunities online. This often means working with companies that have a good product but just need a more strategic approach to how they sell it.

So, there we were chatting about his business and I asked him some questions that are fairly normal. Then I made some suggestions about how they could make some changes that would bring in some money.

Well the conversation changed!

The ideas I gave him were not that amazing but he seemed amazed at them. In fact he said he would look at them right away.

The more we talked the more he seemed happy to look at them.

What is really funny about this is that I know this guy had looked at these ideas before. They were not that ground breaking and he is a clever guy so I know he would have thought of these.

So why had he not implemented them? Two answers. Fear of failing and being too busy.

Success was right under his nose but he couldn’t see it.

I think this is a common problem for many business owners. We are so focused on running the business, or managing customers, or looking after the bills that we miss some of the obvious things that could make our business amazing.

Our subconscious mind sees that we might fail and stops us from doing these things. While we are working hard doing other things we forget to stop and follow what we know could work. I often think I should do something in my business and argue myself out of it and let other things get in the way.

If you run a business I suggest you take an afternoon to really sit down and think about things you can do to make your business better. I know many will say they can’t take an afternoon but I would say to you that you can and should.

Ensure you cant be called or emailed and just sit and let your mind come up with ideas about you business. take some paper and make notes.

Now you have some ideas work on them and write down what you need to do.

You now have a plan!

I would love to know how you get on.

Matt