I spoke with a small business owner earlier, who was blaming his customers for the slowdown of his business. He went on to explain that his customers were fools for turning to other suppliers, who are a little less expensive than him.
He was wrong
Here’s the thing: Blaming your customers for the failure of your business, is like blaming your car for grinding to a halt, because you neglected to put fuel into it. The customers you attract, the amount they spend with you and their decision to recommend you via word of mouth… is all down to YOU.
As the owner of a business, you direct the path of the business.
- You decide whether to adapt your business based on the economy or blame the economy for the failings of your business.
- You decide whether you market your business professionally or rely on ineffective, DIY marketing.
- You decide whether you give customers an experience that they want to tell their friends about, or an average experience.
- You decide whether to invest in the expert help your business needs or invest in a nicer car / vacation / gadget.
- You decide whether to sell based on price or sell based on value.
It’s YOU who decides. Always!
That’s what a business owner does. She makes decisions, which direct the course of her business. If she doesn’t like the direction her business is heading in, she adjusts her course.
To blame the marketplace, economy, weather, government, competition or anything else for the failings of your business makes no sense. Why? Because others with the same challenges, do what’s required and overcome them.
Excuses are easy to come up with. And that’s the problem. If you practice making excuses for long enough, your excuses will be so convincing that people, including you, start believing them!
The bottom line: It’s down to you.
Your move!