My 10-year old son Matthew and I love going to the zoo together. A recent visit inspired this business coaching blog. You see, Matthew loves taking pictures of the largest animals...the polar bears, lions, gorillas, giraffes, and yes, the elephants. You can't ignore, deny or dismiss these massive and beautiful animals. However, that's exactly what business owners very often do. They don't see the big elephant standing right next to them!
As a business owner, what is the one BIG THING you have been putting off? That one BIG DECISION you have failed to make? What is the big elephant in your professional or personal life you are trying to deny or ignore? You know it's there; others know it's there. You simply choose to ignore it, delay a critical decision, and continue on with your day-to-day business as if everything is fine. Guess what? It's not fine. The elephant will still be there...only bigger and messier as time goes by. Either decide to get rid of your elephant now or you will be spending lots of time and mental anguish getting rid of the mounting elephant dung.
This business coaching blog is dedicated to helping you remove the big unresolved issue from your business or life. And yes, you know very well what I'm writing about. As a business coach for nearly two decades, I have yet to meet a business owner, myself included, that does NOT play the occasional game of denial or delay when it comes to a BIG decision or messy matter. Since an entrepreneur's entire week is usually consumed with making countless decisions, one right after another, it's no wonder we all periodically dismiss or postpone a tougher or bigger decision. But at what cost to us or the company?
Please be honest when you answer the following business coaching questions. These questions should help prompt you to wake up and finally see the herd of elephants standing next to you. What is the BIG DECISION you have been procrastinating on? The BIG DECISION you are afraid to make? The BIG DECISION that is eating away at you morning, noon and night? What is the major "mess" in your personal or professional life that is unresolved and needs to be cleaned up? What are some of the tough, cost-cutting measures you have swept under the rug for months? What personnel problems are you intentionally overlooking? What important face-to-face meeting with a customer, vendor, banker, CPA, attorney, financial adviser, partner, or employee do you keep neglecting to schedule? Do you see your elephants now?
Of all your answers from above, what is your biggest decision or mess you need to confront? What is the biggest and messiest elephant standing next to you? Pick only one! Your most pressing issue. Ignore the smaller elephants for now. You will get to them later.
Now it's time to tackle this ONE BIG issue. While you may be playing games with yourself, deep down this delayed decision or unresolved mess is eating away at you, constantly picking at your brain, causing you stress, and continuing to cost you real money. As your virtual business coach, please bring this BIG DECISION or UNRESOLVED MESS front and center so you can properly handle it and regain your freedom and sanity...no longer wasting money, time, or mental energy. It's time to recognize and move the biggest elephant out of your business and life.
Get out your paper or electronic calendar right now and schedule within the next 7 days a specific day and block of time for you to make your decision or clean up your mess. Time to let the BIG ELEPHANT leave the room and take the elephant dung with him. You will feel incredibly liberated and great.
From now on, promise yourself to leave the massive elephants for the zoo, not your life!
Daniel M. Murphy
President, Founder & Business Coach
The Growth Coach
Business Coaching Franchise System