In my last post I promised I would share the most shocking thing that I've learned in starting a new business. Well, here goes. People, possibly your friends and family, don't want you to succeed. Maybe that's too strong a statement, but they will definitely look for reasons for you to fail.
People ask me about my business and I lay out my spiel, "It's a baby planning and nursery design firm focused on alleviating the stress of an expecting couple. Our niche is assisting parents who want to keep the surprise of boy or girl and still get their gender specific dream nursery."
If I could bottle the looks that I still get to this day. Here are a few of my favorite responses:
The Direct Response: "Well, who the hell would ever pay for something like that?"
The Passive Aggressive Response: "And, people really hire you to do that?"
And, my favorite, The No Response: "Oh," pause,”Huh." Then, usually there's a nodding of the head as they back away from me like I'm an alien.
This was a shocker for me and it continues to be a brutal blow to my business ego. It got so bad, that I was embarrassed to tell people about my business and that's a fatal flaw.
Don't get me wrong, these responses are peppered in, lightly peppered in, with those strangers who call me a genius in fan mail declaring they wished something like this existed when they had their babies. That feedback helps, but it doesn't erase the negative.
Two years into my business, I read the best piece of advice that I could ever hope to give. It's in one of my favorite books, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. Yes it is a book about visualization, the power of thought and all of those wacky things that made The Secret a best seller...things I happen to believe in, but another day.
I read The Secret before I read Think and Grow Rich. Inspired by The Secret, I put out into the universe exactly what I wanted. Then, I sat and waited. You know what the universe gave me? Squat. Nada. Nothing.
Think and Grow Rich is different. It takes you to the next logical step...hard work. You put your intentions out to the universe, but then you have to show the universe that you mean business. Otherwise, you get squat. "Think" refers more to thinking like the wealthy do in order to become wealthy, rather than just thinking to become wealthy.
Here's the piece of advice from that book that hit home with me:
The majority of people who fail to accumulate money sufficient for their needs are, generally, easily influenced by the "opinions" of others. They permit the newspapers and the "gossiping" neighbors to do their "thinking" for them. "Opinions" are the cheapest commodities on earth. Everyone has a flock of opinions ready to be wished upon anyone who will accept them. If you are influenced by "opinions" when you reach decisions, you will not succeed in any undertaking, much less in that of transmuting your own desire into money. If you are influenced by the opinions of others, you will have no desire of your own. Think and Grow Rich: Napoleon Hill, pg 158
I'm not big on giving advice, but this is a piece of advice I'd feel comfortable giving any entrepreneur. I wasn't prepared for a lot when I started this business, but if you had told me that people would go out of their way to come up with reasons for you to fail, I wouldn't have believed you. These negative statements are anchors to an entrepreneur.
The book recommends creating a "Master Mind" Group. A group of individuals who are in complete sympathy and harmony with your purpose. Here's another statement in the book that may shock you, but also ring true:
Close friends and relatives, while not meaning to do so, often handicap one through "opinions" and sometimes through ridicule, which is meant to be humorous. Think and Grow Rich: Napoleon Hill, pg 159
For me, I try to remember the families I know have been helped as a result of my business and be confident in the fact that there is a need for my business. No matter what anyone else says!
If you've had a similar experience or have valuable advice that you've learned through your experience, let me know.
NEXT TIME: I've just told you that people balk at my idea and yet, I still took it to market. Next time, I'll tell you why I believe in my business concept 210%! Do you have a new concept you want to take to market? How deeply do you believe in it?
Please note the thoughts and opinions expressed in this blog are based on the experiences of the author. The information contained in this blog is in no way meant to take the place of professional advice. It is only meant as insight into the world of a small business owner. As always, thank you for visiting and feel free to share your own experiences or conerns by leaving a comment.