Be a rebel and break those outdated business rules.
I am incredibly passionate about this and want to encourage others with this message:
You don’t have to follow the same business playbook as everyone around you.
Create your own playbook, cut out the noise when people laugh and fight you on it, and then be humble when you start to kick some butt because of it all.
When you create a business and that business starts to scale, everyone and their mother will have an opinion on it. Your advisors, your family, your friends, your colleagues, your staff. It’s to be expected; however, what they don’t teach you is that 98% of the time, all of those opinions typically contradict each other. Inevitably some advice is traditional, some is extreme, some is fear based, some is risk adverse, some is experience based, and some is overly risky. If there is one lesson I can share, don't take every single one of those opinions as fact, it will distract you and it will slow you down. As a growing company and as a young female, everyone thinks they know what’s best for you and your business, and candidly it’s wildly overwhelming and draining.
I will continue to preach this lesson to entrepreneurs, team leaders, visionaries…Only YOU know what is best for your business, your team, and your vision.
Everything else is just data.
Now am I saying to not ask for help or listen to advice? No. You need to download and listen and learn those data points. But only look at them as just that, data points. Use all the data you have received, and then make your own decision.
There is no single, right way to grow a business or a team. It’s on a spectrum, and it will shift, evolve, change, and pivot multiple times. Evolving and changing is indicative of you taking in ongoing data and using it to your benefit-not being inexperienced. Don’t let anyone tell you different.
Attention new (and old) business owners… It IS hard to tune out the noise… but here are some tips and tricks. Take what works for you and leave what doesn’t.
1) Create a very clear vision of what you are trying to achieve. Whether it’s a business, growing a team, or creating something new. Sit with that vision, dream of that vision. Stay true to that vision.
2) Create a strong team around you that also believes in that same vision. Chances are the advice they give will be more applicable.
3) Don’t be afraid to disagree with those around you.
4) Don’t be afraid to do things differently. People will laugh, think you are out of your mind, they will tell you that you won’t succeed- let them talk. Just don’t let it slow you down.
5) Create your own business methods and stay true to them. If you believe in hybrid schedules, or all in office, or unlimited PTO, or strict business plans, or in bringing back the old millennial office place with bean bag chairs and a beer tap- then DO IT. The more you stay true to your leadership style and vision, the more successful you will be.
6) When asking for advice, be careful with how you word it. Use powerful confident statements versus ones that make you look like someone in distress. Instead of saying “I have no idea what to do” or “I need help, I am lost!” say something like “I’ve got this problem that I have several solutions to pick from. I would like your thoughts on them” or “You've got great experience in this area, can I hear some potential solutions to this problem so I can evaluate what’s best for us”. Don’t leave room for others to make your decisions.
7) Lastly, business plans are just plans (boring ones at that…that usually you don’t ever read after they written…cheers for real time decision making versus outdated data). The traditional MBA way of running a business works for some and it doesn’t for others. Look at the Silicon Valley startup history and how it disrupted the 9-5 suit and tie atmosphere. You don’t have to follow the same rules or the same steps, use the same terminology or read the same books…you don’t have be the same CEO as those around you to be successful. Uniqueness and passion are contagious and inspirational…and bonus, you can still be successful even by being different.
I will leave you with this: Give yourself the grace and patience to figure out your own path and methods. You might not know those now, but by trying and adapting and listening to your gut, you will figure out what works best for you and your team and the success will follow. Be confident when you ask for advice, but remember that its just another data set for your ultimate decision. Now go be that rebel and break those business rules.
TD