By: Annabelle Short
Do you remember as a teenager, your mom or dad would give you some advice on a relationship or maybe on how to do your homework?
You would respectfully ignore it because…
What do mom and dad know, right?
But, looking back, there were probably several times where you wished you had only taken their advice.
It is easy to display the same sense of pride when it comes to your business –
Your business is like your child. You developed the idea and have put time, effort, and money into ensuring its success. So, obviously, you are adamant that you – and only you – could possibly know what is best for it.
But, consider this:
Think of your absolute favorite article of clothing.
Maybe it is your favorite team’s t-shirt or that pair of jeans that fit just right…
Now, when you go to wash that article of clothing, the first thing you do is check the clothing label for washing instructions.
Can you dry it?
Will it shrink?
Does it have to be washed on cold only?
So, why should you not search for professional advice the same way for your business?
You can avoid obvious mistakes.
There are plenty of obvious mistakes that are not so obvious to you at the time-being…
You haven’t made them yet, so how would you know to avoid them?
But, there are plenty of other business owners who have and who would be more than happy to share their story, give you their insight, and allow you to learn from their mistake.
Some of these mistakes might be overwhelmingly embarrassing or just plain costly – but either way, if you could avoid them up front, why not?
It will energize you.
Running a small business can get lonely.
You can easily find yourself consumed with the many hats that you wear as a business owner. However, by getting involved with other business owners or finding a mentor, you can listen to how they approach their businesses…
Not only will connecting with others give you insight into how others do things but it could foster new ideas you have never considered and help your stress, leading you to realize you are not alone.
You don’t know what you don’t know.
This is a saying my parents have told be a million times over…
You don’t know what you don’t know.
And, it is as simple as that.
You might be missing out on the most cost-effective solution for your business that you have been actively searching for.
And, you know what?
It could be right there waiting to smack you in the face if you would just ask for help.
You and your business will prosper.
Ultimately, asking for help will only make you a better person and your business a better business.
You will learn new things that you can apply both to your personal life and to your business practices, you will meet new people who can introduce you to their audiences and help further your business, and you will have someone to call on when the road gets tough.
Final Thoughts
Being a business owner can be hard enough:
Many hats to wear and new challenges to face each day.
Why try to do it alone?
You are only being stubborn not asking for help and continuously missing out on opportunities that you might not even know are available.
Do yourself and your business a favor – swallow your pride and ask for help. When you and your business begin to prosper, you won’t regret it.
Annabelle Short is a writer and a seamstress of more than 5 years. She loves making crafts with her two children, Leo (age 9) and Michelle (age 11). Annabelle likes to write about business, crafting and sewing, and parenting. She splits her time between London and Los Angeles and writes for Wunderlabel. You can visit her blog to learn more about her and her handmade creations.