Even Coaches have Coaches
Those of you who have followed my journey as a business plan consultant helping people start, grow or exit their businesses will know that I am a runner. As much as I hesitate to call myself a “runner” I took up running about 10 years ago when I started working with entrepreneurs in a formal role, because I needed to learn to do something really hard (for me) as I helped them write business plans and learn about their business ideas which was really hard (for them) .
I have been running 5k, 10ks and a few half marathons for the past 10 years and have always struggled…I’m never really happy with my results, they’re always the same times and it’s still such a hard thing to do. I joined a running group and I asked, “When is this going to be easy“, they replied in unison… Never! This running group turned out to become great friends. We supported each other and had lots of fun but the rule was everyone run their own race so we never shared or advised each other of anything running related. Does this sound like a networking group? You join, you become friends and have fun but you never receive advice, feedback or coaching on your business.
I Set a Goal and it remained Elusive
This past summer I committed, operative word committed, to a 3 day per week 16-week training program. The outcome was that I achieved better results without as much struggle, but I still wasn’t achieving the outcome I wanted. I had set a goal and it remained elusive. Enter Coach Laura. An amazing woman who coaches elite junior runners and athletes of other disciplines. I started a conditioning program with her and she said do you have a goal? I said yes and shared with her the result I hoped to achieve. For me, she designed a specific program which is going to be a challenge for me and is a stretch of my current abilities. Am I confident I can do it? 100 percent. So why this confidence? Because I realized that I was expecting a different outcome by doing the same thing over and over in my training. I needed to connect with an expert or a coach, who gave me a plan and will support me as I move towards my goal. If I have a problem with the training, she will help me adjust and re-calibrate.
Why am I telling you this?
Because my running experience mirrors what you need to do in your business. If you have a goal and are not meeting it whether it is a sales goal, to open a second location, or sell your business and retire then you need to seek out a coach and get help to develop a plan to meet that goal.
Have you been running your business for several years and struggling like I did with my running? Did you feel like it was never getting easier or you were not getting the results you hoped for while others around you seemed to be doing better?
Working with a coach /consultant in your business happens when you see that what you have been doing on your own isn’t cutting it and isn’t getting you the results you want. Whether you are new to business or you have been in business for awhile, the next best time to seek out a coach/consultant is when you are open to it and realize that planning needs to occur to organize your ideas to move your business forward. And my running group is right- It never gets easier because as soon as you master one goal, one distance, one time, you want to move onto another one, then another one. That describes our businesses doesn’t it? We accomplish one goal and move onto another because there is always so much to do and be done. You don’t have to do it alone and while your networking groups serve a useful purpose don’t confuse it with the essential business support you need to accomplish your business goals.
Don’t do it alone, find a business coach /consultant who can support you and help you get to where you want to be in your business.
