Welcome back to those who have been following this series. Today’s post focuses obstacles 6 and 7. When you put these last two obstacles together with the first 5 in this series, I’m sure you will see value in how these obstacles impact your life, and you now have some questions and answers to help you identify what you can do to create your success.

6. The Obstacle:  If I build it, they will come

A great movie; a poor marketing strategy.  Not having a marketing plan or under-funding marketing will keep your business in the ‘best kept secret’ category.  

The Solution:  Marketing, advertising, client awareness

Your product and service need to be visible, available and in front of your clients.  Borrowing from marketing terminology, you must keep your pipeline full….meaning you are continually looking for new clients.  Regardless of the strength of your client relations program, you will lose clients.  Have a roadmap for marketing that will keep your pipeline full, and provide you with indicators of market, environmental and business trends.

7. The Obstacle:  I can do it all

The prevalence of this thinking is staggering – and so perplexing because we logically, rationally, and experientially know we can’t do it all – we’re not great at everything.  This unrealistic attitude is not a solid foundation on which to build or expand a business.  Forcing ourselves to function in an area that we are not well suited, trained, or excel, is inviting this obstacle to interfere with our business success. 

The Solution:  Knowing your strengths

Each and every one of us is exceptional when we engage our strengths; those activities that come easily to us.  You are in your ‘strength’ zone – and that is where you want to reside.  If you are unsure or want clarification of your strengths, visit my product page to download the eBook of strength assessments.  You are worthy of success.  The key is to be realistic about what you can and can’t do.

Does the last obstacle sound like the first? Yes, the first and the last obstacles are identical. Why? Because this is by far, the number one obstacle according to my clients, my research and you!  If you have additional obstacles to add, please email me so others can benefit from your hard-learned lessons.

Thank you for sharing your most valuable resource with me – your time.  In closing, I share this story:

A well-known speaker started his seminar by holding up a $20.00 bill.

In the room of 300, he asked, “Who would like this $20.00 bill?”

Hands started going up.

He said, “I am going to give this to one of you but first, let me do this.”

He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up.  He then asked, “Who still wants it?”

Still hands were up in the air.  Well, he replied, “What if I do this?”

And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.

He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty.  “Now who still wants it?”

Still hands went up into the air. 

“What I did to the money is a valuable lesson.  No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value.  It is still worth $20.00. 

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way.  We feel as though we are worthless.  But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value: dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who love you.”