Mar 132013
How well we adjust to change is a great indication of what kind of
entrepreneur we will be.
During the question and answer period of my keynotes, I sometimes hear questions that show when someone is not very adaptable. They are asking questions that indicate they are looking for a magic bullet for success. These questions show that the person asking is looking to be told that all they need is to be great at providing their clients with excellent service but don’t have to spend their time buildings relationships with their prospects–the very definition of marketing.
Is one born with being flexible or is it taught? I believe that while our early childhood does affect how we react to events in our lives we can chose how to live our lives when we become adults (in fact this is one of the ways in which people define adulthood). So it really doesn’t matter if you were taught to be adaptable or not. What matters is what you choose as an adult.
Fact is, it is impossible to run a business without embracing change. So if you want to succeed as entrepreneur, than get ready for a life filled with changing circumstances all the time. Markets change, clients change, economies change, tastes change, people change. Business owners who recognize this do well.
Personally I like change. I like having a different day everyday and I like working with a variety of people in different fields. The last few years I have had the opportunity to present to audiences made up of real estate, travel, design, landscape, high-tech and insurance professionals. The one thing all these industries have in common is that they are all ‘relationship marketing’ dependent. In other words, those who are successful are those that are great at building and maintaining relationships with their clients and prospects. And this requires the skill set of being able to welcome change.
I am not really sure how it came to be that I like change so much, but I think it must have had something to do with moving so much as a both a child and adult. Some of you may recall from my keynote, “Blast Past Your Competition,” that my husband and I lived in six homes on two continents during our first ten years of marriage.
During the question and answer period of my keynotes, I sometimes hear questions that show when someone is not very adaptable. They are asking questions that indicate they are looking for a magic bullet for success. These questions show that the person asking is looking to be told that all they need is to be great at providing their clients with excellent service but don’t have to spend their time buildings relationships with their prospects–the very definition of marketing.
Is one born with being flexible or is it taught? I believe that while our early childhood does affect how we react to events in our lives we can chose how to live our lives when we become adults (in fact this is one of the ways in which people define adulthood). So it really doesn’t matter if you were taught to be adaptable or not. What matters is what you choose as an adult.
Fact is, it is impossible to run a business without embracing change. So if you want to succeed as entrepreneur, than get ready for a life filled with changing circumstances all the time. Markets change, clients change, economies change, tastes change, people change. Business owners who recognize this do well.
Personally I like change. I like having a different day everyday and I like working with a variety of people in different fields. The last few years I have had the opportunity to present to audiences made up of real estate, travel, design, landscape, high-tech and insurance professionals. The one thing all these industries have in common is that they are all ‘relationship marketing’ dependent. In other words, those who are successful are those that are great at building and maintaining relationships with their clients and prospects. And this requires the skill set of being able to welcome change.
I am not really sure how it came to be that I like change so much, but I think it must have had something to do with moving so much as a both a child and adult. Some of you may recall from my keynote, “Blast Past Your Competition,” that my husband and I lived in six homes on two continents during our first ten years of marriage.
Now you don’t have to move a lot to
be good at running a business, but you do have to like change in order to
succeed as an entrepreneur.
Yours,
Yours,
Heidi BK
Sloss
Marketing Strategist & Follow-Up Expert
Best-Selling Author of Fortune is in the Follow-Up®
hsloss@heidisloss.com
www.heidisloss.com
650-248-1545
Marketing Strategist & Follow-Up Expert
Best-Selling Author of Fortune is in the Follow-Up®
hsloss@heidisloss.com
www.heidisloss.com
650-248-1545
PS: The last 14 years have been
relatively stable for us: only two homes in two locations. There was an article
in our local paper about how our last move back to the bay area and how we built
a life for ourselves. Feel free to take a peek at it to learn more about us and
our move 4+ years ago. Settling into new surroundings.
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