I read a lot of books from the so-called “success literature.” These books are a valuable source of new ideas for me and Wanda and helps keep us inspired. Although each author has his or her own unique recipe for success, based on unique experiences in the business world, there are similarities. One of the main messages that seems to be repeated is the concept of surrounding yourself with like-minded people. Almost every successful person I’ve seen, heard, or read, gives credit to the others who helped them get to where they are. Very rarely will a successful person take all the credit. One of the things that contribute to a person’s success is knowing what you are good at and finding others to do the rest. Unfortunately, as small business owners, we don’t always have the luxury of hiring folks to fill in the gaps for us. Even so, it’s important to be able to identify areas of need and be bold enough to ask for help. There are several choices when it comes to asking for help.
Obviously, the first question is, “What do you need help with?” Is it inside your business (organization, staffing, bookkeeping, etc.) or is it external (vision, motivation, life balance, etc.)? Internal issues can best be dealt with through consultants, trainers, and others who specialize in looking at the way a company is being run and making suggestions on how those processes could be improved. External issues are more tricky, as many businesses owners are afraid to admit they don’t have it all together. Well, guess what? Nobody has it ALL together. We could all use help in one area or another. If your weeks seem to run together, and life feels like a treadmill that just won’t stop, it’s time to do something about it. Two of the best ways to get the help you need is to hire a business coach or become part of a mastermind group. A coach will work with you one on one to keep you focused on what you need to be doing and why you’re doing it. They become an accountability partner.
A mastermind group is a small group of like-minded individuals who serve as a board of advisors for each other. They can push, support, challenge, and encourage you to do what needs to be done to get you where you want to go. The best part of a mastermind is the team concept, with each member partnering in each other’s success. Team Nimbus was founded on the concept of helping business owners through this peer advisory format. Team members receive new ideas from their mastermind group, as well as fresh perspectives on their own ideas. This process, which has been around for hundreds of years, has been applied in a multitude of professions, from religion to government to business. These are only a few of the ways a business owner can get help. Regardless of which source of assistance you pursue, the first step is admitting you can’t do it all by yourself. The second step is asking for help.