Do you struggle with the challenge of making the right decision for your business?
Have you ever asked a question like the ones below?
I have been offered some money to build a website for someone because they like the way I created my site, should I do it?
(You only build your website to save money. Building websites is not something you are passionate about.)
I received an offer to make good money writing for a right-wing political magazine, should I do it?
(You hate politics, but you are a good writer and know that you could easily do what they ask.)
I have an opportunity to speak to a large corporation, should I do it?
(The people you serve are primarily entrepreneurs.)
I have been asked to speak on a virtual summit, should I do it? (The summit is about dating and your niche is about conscious eating.)
When considering an opportunity to make some quick easy cash or a way to get visible, your first instinct may be to jump at the chance. You may even ask family, friends or colleagues, “What should I do?” Or you might post it on social media to see what the majority says.
While it is often good to get feedback, it is not the key to making the right decision for your business. With the examples above, you are only asking “Should I do it?” because your heart is not really in it. It could simply be that you have a fear of missing out on a good thing. This is where the inner-conflict comes from.
Usually, you know when you are making the right decision for your business, because it is an automatic, “Hell Yes!” You are so excited about the opportunity that you are telling everyone how excited you are that you have this opportunity.
It is important to have a mentor or coach who understands what your long-term goals and desires are because then, he or she can guide you in making the right decision for your business.
Just because it is not a “Hell Yes,” does not mean that you should not investigate or follow through with the opportunity that has presented itself. No one else can really tell you to do or to not do it. The choice is yours. Here are some questions to ask yourself to ensure your decisions are best for you and your business.
- Am I in dire need of the money?
If the answer is yes, dig deeper by asking:- Will this give me peace of mind to work on my own business?
- Will I still have time to work on my business?
- Is there a way I could make this money in my business if I utilized the same amount of time?
- Does this opportunity align with my personal and business values?
Why would you even consider writing about something you hate?
Yet, many people do this every single day.
Doing something you do not enjoy is not congruent with a winning business mindset.
The trick is to have strategies in place to get in the right mindset before you work on your business.
You need to consider what your personal and core business values are. Having clarity around your principles makes it easier to see if your actions align with your core values. - Does this opportunity put me in front of my ideal target market?
Once you know your target market and have identified your ideal client, you will be able to answer this question very quickly.
You want to highlight your expertise to people who are hungry to have the information and services that you offer.
If you are a coach focusing on conscious eating, you may mistakenly believe that everyone is your market. You might also think that people who want to learn how to date, are your market, which is also untrue. Though you may find a few clients, spending time speaking to audiences full of your target market will be more beneficial. - Will it strengthen my brand?
To be successful, you need to know what your brand is. A brand is far more than a logo and a business card.
Your brand lets your customers know what your promise is. It helps them to know what you stand for and includes many things including your message, products, customer service, values, vision and website presence. If you are marketing yourself as a food coach and are showing up on dating teleseminars, there is a disconnect.
When making business decisions, it is important to know your big picture. The clearer you are about what you want your future business to look like, the easier it will be to see if an action will strengthen or weaken the brand you are building.
The four questions above will help you in making the right decisions for your business. Deciding puts your mind chatter to rest. The decision you make today is not set in stone. You are free to make a different decision on another day. Tap into your inner guidance, and ask yourself, “Is this the right decision for me, right at this moment in time?”
