During the Free 30 Minute Consulting Call I’ve been offering to contractors since 2002, we always get into a discussion about how they, the contractor, likes to learn.
Near the end of the call, I share what I do and the different ways I do that work with clients. I explain that there are generally two ways to learn and that is self-study where you’re required to have the discipline to apply yourself or you need to hire a consultant to work one-to-one with. And I also share what their other options besides me might be to get the specific type of help they’re seeking.
I share with them that working on their business to get it fit can be a lot like how someone would go about their personal fitness.
One option is to plug in an exercise video and if disciplined enough do the push-ups and sit-ups and get into shape. The other option is they can get in shape by hiring a personal trainer to customize a fitness program for them and they can work with them to monitor results, make adjustments, provide guidance along the way and give them the push they may need to reach their goals.
I tell them they need to know what will work best for them.
Many times which path they choose to get their business fit is based on what we’ve been discussing during the call such as their past experiences when it comes to learning on their own or with professional help. The other factor is what their circumstances currently are when it comes to what they have in the way of time, energy and money to invest.
Some contractors actually prefer to learn on their own and at their own pace. They have no fear of going it alone when it comes to getting the information and the knowledge they desire. All they really seek is to better understand their choices, what they’ll be getting when they buy a self-study program and what the WIIFMs [What’s In It For Me] to each program. For them, a book, an eBook, a binder or series of binders, a seminar, a webinar and other types of self-study programs fit them best. It’s certainly can be a more affordable option.
Other contractors have been at this process of trying to get their business fit for quite a while and they have the bumps and bruises to show for it. If they’re small or stuck as owner-operator level they know they need one-to-one help to get from there to the next level. It’s been a ceiling they can’t break through on their own because they lack the systems, procedures and know-how to get their company bigger and better. There have discovered there are no more hours left in the day left to do all they are trying to do the way their doing it now.
And there are still another group of contractors who have grown their companies wildly and now this growth has their company out-of-control. It’s proving to be exhausting and expensive in terms of both stress and money lost. They have arrived at a point where they need to get things under control to survive and to set the stage for what they hope will be the next level they seek which will have them thriving not just surviving.
Anyone you choose to make your company better will pay you enormous dividends but you must come to the process with the intent to make a change for the better and with the will and determination to make working on the business a priority vs. just working in it.