Do you need a front end alignment?
By: Sandi Krakowski
Have you ever driven down the road and all of a sudden your steering wheel starts shaking? We’ve all experienced this, haven’t we? If you’re not the one who typically takes care of the cars in the house you might think the wheels are about to fall off. I mean, surely, the steering wheel isn’t going to rattle and shake if the wheels aren’t falling off, right?
I’m so used to my Honda Pilot , tenderly referred to by many as my "Momma Mobile" and it rides so smoothly. It also gives off clues way ahead of time if a problem is developing. I can quickly tell if I take my hands off the wheel for a moment, if it starts to veer to the left or to the right just a tad, it’s time to get something fixed. I’ll usually ask my husband to take it in to get a front end alignment, check the air pressure, maybe we’ll rotate the tires but the goal is, make sure it’s running like it should be.
Maybe you’re the kind of person who isn’t that proactive in your vehicle maintenance. Do you wait until the rattling begins and the ‘slight pulls’ turns into a full on battle to drive with both hands on the wheels?
A lot of people are like this in their business.
Let’s talk about CEO maintenance and regular checkups. How are you doing?
Is there someone in your life who you regularly get a ‘check up’ with ? Someone who checks into how your list is growing, how many new clients you’ve acquired every week and how you’re spending your time?
Just like regular maintenance with the cars that we can’t live without, life will tell you if you’re due for a checkup. And if you’re not careful, it will abruptly remind you if you’re past, way past, your scheduled tune up.
As I’ve been coaching large and small business owners during the several years, they all tend to have the same issues. (Which means it's normal to have issues as you build a business, by the way) Time and life management, keeping up with the work or not seeing the results they want and having no idea what direction to move in. Some get caught up in too much research while others are constantly starting new things, but rarely finishing a task through to completion.
The ‘reasons’ and excuses can vary but ironically, these signs still arise at various places in their business growth. Business owners who are struggling to make their first $10,000 have things they need help with and those who are working hard to get over that $900,000 hurdle into million dollar status also can’t do it alone.
It got me thinking about some of the things we business owners can come up with as to the ‘reason’ we aren’t where we want to be, can’t get to where we want to be or are simply holding ourselves back.
Imagine with me for a few moments, applying these excuses to a front end alignment on your car.
Excuses we come up with:
“Oh it’s just not the right time” – Can you imagine saying that when your car is veering in the road and you’ve lost total control of your steering? How many of us would have the audacity to say that we just don’t think the time is right to get our tires checked or our alignment corrected. We don’t do that, do we? But far too many business owners say this and don’t give it a second thought. As if it’s a logical thing for an entrepreneur to say. As if there's a TIME when life is easy, perfect and the Universe is aligned so NOW we can start our business. It doesn't work that way.
“Oh, it wasn’t meant to be” – As if having front end aligned tires is a ‘mystical’ thing and we have no control over where or when we can get our tires changed? Imagine with me if you will, saying, “Well I was on my way to get my tires fixed but one of them fell off, the weather was bad, the power went out and the children had the flu. So I guess we’ll just have to go without tires until the Summer.” Yeah right! We don’t’ say these things about the vehicles that transport us, but far too many say this to masquerade the real fear and lack of commitment they have to growing their skill.
“I just don’t have the money” – Do we have a choice to drive without tires? I guess we do if we make a decision to ride a bike, walk or just never leave our home. Typically people make a way, even when there isn’t a way. They’ll borrow money, take a payday loan, go without their favorite Smoothie Style Coffee and eat oatmeal for a week so they can get the tires fixed. The job that pays them peanuts is a form of security, but despite the fact that they hate it every single day, the tires will get fixed and life will continue. What would happen if the struggling business owner went coffee-less and ate oatmeal for a few meals so they could improve their skill and buy that course they need?
“I need to talk to my friends” Now this one is funny because we all know we don’t call our friends when we need our tires changed. We go get them done. Rarely do we ask anyone if we should, could or would get our cars taken care of. Yet, every day people deflect their own inability to press through their fears and insecurities and come up with excuses that require the insight of all their broke and struggling friends to determine if they should change their future or not.
It’s time for a change. It's time for A Real Change!
This is a new generation where those who are serious and committed will rise to the top. Are you going to be one who lives and caters to excuses? Or will you press through and go get what you've been dreaming of, all these years?
I believe in you, your future and your family’s future. I’m also committed to helping you in anyway that I personally can.
With Love,
Sandi Krakowski
