I just got back home from Chicago after spending several days at The Growth Coach National Conference.  It was our largest and best to date and I thank our franchise owners, vendors and guest speakers for making it so informative, upbeat, inspiring and valuable for all the attendees.  As the founder of this business coaching franchise system, I'm very proud of our business coaches for so enthusiastically and effectively carrying out our mission to improve North America one community at a time by helping the small business owners in those communities achieve greater success and balance in their lives.  

I was humbled and thrilled to see how far The Growth Coach has come in less than seven years and extremely satisfied to see so many franchise owners thoroughly enjoying being business coaches and making significant differences in their communities and in the lives of their clients.  

At our Conference, one of the key themes was for business owners to take personal responsibility and accountability for all business results.  This tough-love coaching was not only for the benefit of our franchise owners but for the several thousand small business clients they serve every year.  Our business coaching process provides the structure and discipline for owners to slow down, face reality, and take responsibility for current results...as well as the necessary course corrections to drive better results.  At the foundation of all success is personal responsibility. 

The most successful entrepreneurs (all achievers for that matter) are those who take 100% responsibility and ownership for their results no matter what.  They don't waste time or energy blaming, complaining or making excuses.  After all, if you blame others or circumstances, you are giving your power away.  Instead of being a victor, you are being a victim.  Instead of being powerful, you are acting powerless.  Instead of making things happen, you are letting things happen.  Stop blaming and complaining...it only hurts you and your business.  You can either make money or make excuses, you can't do both.  Learn to take 100% responsibility.

As a business owner yourself, can you handle the truth?  Here it comes...your business is where it is, how it is and what it is because of YOU.  Good, bad and ugly, you are responsible for the business and all of its results...today and tomorrow.  For your sake, please own up to that.  Please don't try to blame the economy, the government, your industry, your employees, customers, vendors, suppliers, etc.  That will NOT help you improve your results at all...in fact, blaming and complaining will ensure that you remain stuck in your present situation.

The only way your business and life will improve is if YOU improve as an owner and leader...your knowledge, mindset, strategies, and habits.  Business coaching can help you in all those areas.  Please put your ego on hold and face reality.  This is not a matter of being right or wrong...it's about getting better results and more out of your business and life.  Would you rather "be right" or get the right results?  Stop telling yourself comforting stories and lies.  Stop blaming others and making excuses.  Learn to take responsibility and face the truth. 

Once you acknowledge and accept reality (the truth about what is working and what is broken in your business & life), you are then standing on solid ground, not quicksand.  You can build and grow on solid ground; you can only continue to sink and drown in quicksand.  As an owner, you need the TRUTH and PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY to advance.

For the next 30 days, each morning, please focus on answering these "personal accountability" questions:

1. What can I do to improve my business today?
2. How can I improve my business today?
3. So I can take 100% responsibility for all results, what excuses, blaming, or complaining do I need to eliminate?

Growth Coaches are available throughout North America to help you and your business.  To find a business coach near you, please click on the Growth Coach Business Coach Locator. 

Daniel M. Murphy
President, Founder & Business Coach
The Growth Coach
Business Coaching Franchise System
Certified Business Coaches throughout North America