Perspective

Very often, an "outside vision" can bring fresh perspective to a situation. Have you ever walked into a business and thought "Wow, I can't believe that they are doing that?" or, "I wonder why they don’t do it this way?" While there may be an excellent reason for the way things are being done, many times an outside perspective can be right on the mark. Over my 20 years in business, I have picked up a lot of great advice and learned a lot about my own businesses, because someone was willing to share with me from their own perspective.

The need to listen

Early in my career- still wet behind the ears with little experience- I was too proud to let outsiders give me advice. In those days I felt I needed to prove myself, cover up my weakness and lack of experience, and I did so by facing criticism with a defensive attitude. Eventually, I realized there was a lot to learn in the world, if I just kept quiet and listened.

There is a wealth of ideas and lessons we can all tap into, but it’s worthless if we let pride get in the way and feel we are too smart to listen. No matter how successful you are, I doubt there’s not an idea that couldn’t improve your business in one way or another. Like fingerprints, everyone's perspective is a little different and nobody visualizes your company exactly the way you do. Sometimes you need to reach out and ask, or at least be receptive to an outsider’s opinion.

Get out of the “Eye of the Storm”

For many business owners it’s easy to get caught in the "eye of the storm." By being caught in the “eye of the storm,” perspectives change and management vision gets disrupted. Rather than being focused on the big picture and the future, taking care of today becomes overwhelming. When you feel yourself getting sucked in, it’s important to find a solution and refocus on the big picture. By being receptive and staying out of the storm, you will have the ability to come up with the next great idea.

I am regularly discussing business life, strategies, and decisions with other entrepreneurs. Whether you facing an existing obstacle, or perhaps an ongoing concern, sometimes an outside viewpoint that otherwise may not have been considered may be the difference of where your company will be headed tomorrow. The approaches to making decisions and strategizing your business is almost unlimited. If you would like further ideas or guidance, feel free to contact Jim Schmitz for additional information by submitting this contact form. Jim will be in contact with you promptly.

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