There’s a lot of common knowledge out there, which is stated as fact, but is incorrect.
For example, have you ever stopped to consider the actual meanings behind those often repeated old sayings?
- You’ve got to be cruel to be kind. No you haven’t! It’s perfectly fine to be kind to people, without the cruelty. You will find it works a lot better too.
- A man’s best friend is his dog. Really? Not his wife, his children, his parents or siblings… his dog. I know a lot of men who own dogs, I know none who would choose it over their children.
- You can’t have your cake and eat it too! Every cake you have ever eaten, you bought or were given first. You had the cake, you ate the cake, because cakes are made to be eaten.
Critical thinking
Just as people repeat these old sayings every day without giving them much thought, people often apply ideas to their business, which they have failed to give enough critical thought to.
I have lost count of the times I have heard people say; “We have always done it like this.” as a way to justify why they do, what they do. Now, if they have always done something a certain way, because they have looked for better ways to do it, and failed, that’s fine. But to keep on doing something ONLY because of familiarity, makes little commercial sense.
It does us all good, to regularly review the processes within our business. In fact, it’s hard to make meaningful, ongoing progress, without constantly seeking to improve.
Jim Connolly can help you grow your business and achieve the breakthrough marketing results your hard work deserves. To find out more, simply click here!
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Good points Jim!
I think most people do not review enough and then act on it!
Now about that cake……..
How did I know you’d comment on a post that mentioned cake, Gavin?
(Especially as you’re so slim!)
Also – “Business is Business” I prefer “Business is Relationships”
The leader
The staff
The suppliers
The customers
These are all people!
Thank you Jim for a great blog, I have been reading for approx. 6 months & find your insights extremely helpful. Your goal setting piece was wonderfully simplistic & that’s my favourite…
Can I ask, did you ever meet Jim Rohn?
Hi Ben. No, I never met with Jim other than me being a face in the crowd; though we did connect electronically, initially via fax then email.
Excellent reminder, Jim. Your observations remind me of things in Maine, where I jokingly say that the state slogan must be, “We tried that — it didn’t work” as that is the reply to every suggestion for change.
Give the problem some thought. See if there is another solution.
Try again. Try harder. Try it from a different perspective. Or, if that is really your best answer, then I suppose you better just give up.
I love that comment, Scott.
That slogan’s great too; “We tried that — it didn’t work”
Thanks, sir!
“We’ve always done it like this,” drives me absolutely NUTS. It’s like saying, “We feel we’ve learned enough.” It’s certainly no way to grow. And I tellya, having lived the last 15 years in Maine, I’m all too familiar with that slogan Scott mentions. But at least with that one, you can say you tried (if you DID, in fact, try).
Rock on, Jim!
Yep Brett – That one drives me nuts too sir!
Rock on!