Tag: your business

This week's question from my portal “The Neagle Code: Directions for Life” comes from someone who wishes to remain anonymous

Hi David!

I know that it takes a team to build the business that I want to grow, but I really struggle with trust. How much trust should I put into others? Or is it ALL on me?

Thanks so much!

Hi and thanks for the question.

The concept of trust is interesting, and the more I speak to entrepreneurs, the more I see how their lack of understanding of trust leads to sabotage.

You see, trust MUST be earned.

To trust blindly in others is sheer ignorance.

Let me explain.

When you are building a team, you have to be a leader.

A good leader interviews and screens potential hires carefully and strategically.

A good leader ALWAYS checks references.

After the hire is made, the leader gives the new team member opportunities to earn the leader’s trust until they have proven to be trustworthy.

This is your business, it’s your responsibility, and I see so many entrepreneurs hand over the keys to their business to people who have not demonstrated that they can be trusted.

Do your part to make sure the team members you are bringing into your business are a good fit, and be willing to give them opportunities to showcase their gifts and earn your trust at the same time.

This week's question from my portal “The Neagle Code: Directions for Life” comes from Tina F.

This week's question from my portal “The Neagle Code: Directions for Life” comes from someone who wishes to remain anonymous.

Hi David,

My biggest struggle right now is time management. I need at least an extra 4-5 hours in each of my days. I want to spend time on money-making tasks, but there’s just so much to do. How can I manage my time better to grow my business?



Hi, and thanks for the fantastic question!


This is an issue I’ve addressed in a previous post, so I’m going to pull it forward and share it again!

I learned a long time ago that we can’t manage time…we must manage activities.

You see, work will always fill the time you allot for it. This is why one of the first things I teach my VIP Clients is the fine art of calendaring.

Let me explain… as entrepreneurs, there are so many things that can bombard us on a daily basis. Whether it’s making sales calls, handling client satisfaction, fulfilling orders or programs, marketing planning or dealing with our personal lives, there is ALWAYS something to fill our time.

One of the key strategies to ensuring money-making activities get done is to schedule those activities every day, and STICK TO YOUR SCHEDULE.

Start with calendaring the “non-negotiable” items first. These items can be up-coming travel, presentations, and other activities that are firm.

Next schedule all your money-making activities. These should include sales calls, strategy and launches.

From there schedule everything else.

In doing this you may even come to see that you actually have more time than you need or you may see opportunities to hire people to help you with the things you do not specifically need to be doing.

Once you have your schedule in place, you must discipline yourself to stick to it!

Sometimes this is the most difficult step, and if you find yourself straying from your calendar, take a moment to re-align yourself and course correct.

PS: The Neagle Code: Directions for Life is a weekly no-cost program that is open to everyone! Each week, I'll select and personally respond to one question received via the above “The Neagle Code” page that I feel in my heart will help the most people. (You may choose to remain anonymous if you wish, with our full support.) It is my deep, heartfelt intention that ~ in answering your questions ~ I may provide you with the Universal Truths that in committed application, will set you free. Simply submit YOUR burning question at: www.DavidNeagle.com/ask-david to participate.

This week's question from my portal “The Neagle Code: Directions for Life” comes from Malcolm.

Hi David!

The good news about me is that I’m really ready to grow my team. The bad news is that I don’t have much experience hiring, and the hires I’ve made in the past…well…let’s just say they haven’t been the best hires. Do you have any guidelines on hiring or advice you could share with me as I grow my team?

Thanks much!

Congrats on your decision to grow and thanks for the great question!

When doing ANY hiring, you always need to first start with yourself.

Are you the right person to do the hiring? Be honest.

Do you have a poor track record of turn over within your business?

Businesses lose money every time they have to fire and hire, so at times, it’s often less time consuming and more cost effective to turn to a professional to assist you in hiring.

Most people don’t even realize this is an option.

An outside hiring service is skilled at not only knowing what questions to ask you to make sure you attract qualified people, but also what questions to ask the potential employee.

They can be more objective and know how to “read between the lines” in an interview so that only qualified people who will match your culture make the cut.

If you feel like you are the person to do the hiring, sit down and make a list of all the qualities and skills you’re looking for in the “right” person.

Be specific. When hiring you want to be able to clearly explain both duties and expectations.

I once had the honor of having my friend Tony Hsieh of Zappos.com speak from my stage and he always encourages people to hire slow and fire fast.

I couldn’t agree more.

If you find that you are still having difficulty finding the right person to fill a role in your company, you may need to take a long hard look at why you are attracting the situation.

Are you keeping yourself the bottleneck in your company so you feel important?

Do you have issues with trusting someone else to do a job that you know you can do well?

Remember, everything starts with you, so the more clear and honest you can be with yourself and others, the easier that position will be to fill.

PS: The Neagle Code: Directions for Life is a weekly no-cost program that is open to everyone! Each week, I'll select and personally respond to one question received via the above “The Neagle Code” page that I feel in my heart will help the most people. (You may choose to remain anonymous if you wish, with our full support.) It is my deep, heartfelt intention that ~ in answering your questions ~ I may provide you with the Universal Truths that in committed application, will set you free. Simply submit YOUR burning question at: www.DavidNeagle.com/ask-david to participate.

This week's question from my portal “The Neagle Code: Directions for Life” comes from Julia.

Dear David,

I'm narrowing the focus of my business with the programs I have on offer and who I serve. I know that some of my current subscribers will not “fit” my new client profile. How do I make the transition without losing the majority of my community? Thank you for your time!

Hi Julia and thanks for your question!

I guess my question back to you would be:

Why do you want to hold on to clients that do not fit your profile? It doesn’t seem like that would be in service to you or them.

Instead focus on those that you can and want to help. The subscribers who relate to that profile will stay and those who don’t will go.

Here’s the beauty of your situation…there is no lack. Your new subscribers are just waiting for you to make the transition.

I know in my company we would rather have a smaller group of our ideal clients than a huge group of people who are just names and email addresses.

In this situation, quality over quantity allows you to speak more clearly to people and maintain a clear focus of who you want to help.

PS: The Neagle Code: Directions for Life is a weekly no-cost program that is open to everyone! Each week, I'll select and personally respond to one question received via the above “The Neagle Code” page that I feel in my heart will help the most people. (You may choose to remain anonymous if you wish, with our full support.) It is my deep, heartfelt intention that ~ in answering your questions ~ I may provide you with the Universal Truths that in committed application, will set you free. Simply submit YOUR burning question at: www.DavidNeagle.com/ask-david to participate.

This week's question from my portal “The Neagle Code: Directions for Life” comes from an individual who wishes to remain anonymous.

Question:

Hello David ! I just started in business and I have what I see as a problem. I come from a family where self value wasn't present, and I find that it's hard for me to deal with employees. I tend to be kind and put at least some of their priorities first. In business books I keep reading that is not a good tactic. I am afraid I will ruin my business success by considering employees' needs too!
What's your opinion?

Answer:

Hi and thanks for the question!

“Dealing” with employees and “considering their needs” are two totally different things.

Because I'm not sure of the exact scenarios you are referencing, I'm going to make some assumptions in order to help you get some clarity about what's going on in your business.

My guess is that you would rather be liked than prosperous.

Let me explain.

If you put your employees needs over the needs of your business because you are afraid that they won't like you if you tell them no, you would rather be liked than prosperous.

If you avoid having the “difficult” conversations with your employees regarding expectations and responsibilities because you're worried they won't like you, you would rather be liked than prosperous.

You see, it's one thing to consider the needs to your employees, it's an entirely different thing if your employees needs negatively affect your business.

Communication is key in any business setting, and if you're having difficulty communicating for fear of what others will think, you're putting your business in a very perilous position.

The key is to really become aware of what's happening.

Most people experience this in their business because they fear the judgment of others.

Judgment is painful and therefore, they are willing to do anything to avoid it.

Freedom is in realizing that the judgment of others has nothing to do with you and everything to do with the person who is judging.

Team members respect a leader who is confident and clear.

Think of one thing you can do right now to step into being the leader you need to be.

Now, take action!

This week's question from my portal “The Neagle Code: Directions for Life” comes from an individual who wishes to remain anonymous.

Question:

My husband and I bought the company he was working for 5 years ago. I truly believe in God and that we can change the circumstances of our lives. My husband does not and our business (distributor of industrial machinery) is in serious financial trouble. How can I change things around if my husband is trapped in negativity and stress? He is the one who makes the business decisions.
Thank you David!

Answer:

Thanks so much for this question!

Is this your husband's business, or do you own it jointly?

The reason I'm asking is VERY important.

If you and your husband own the business jointly, why does your husband make all the business decisions?

AND

If this is your husband's business, why are you trying to save him? Are you using his situation as a distraction from what you should be doing for yourself?

I'm going to answer this question based on the assumption that you and your husband both own the business.

I'm not questioning your belief in God that you can turn your business into success, I'm just wondering how you can take action on that faith if you've given all decision making power to your husband.

If you own your business jointly, you should discuss business decisions together.

That being said, generally when this scenario pops up with entrepreneurs and their partners it's because each person wants something completely different.

If you haven't already, I recommend sitting down as a couple and having an honest discussion about what each of you wants.

Are they the same or completely different?

Your business is failing for a reason, and if you do both not want the same things, it could be sabotaging your success.

Here's an activity I recommend for all couples who are also in business together.

Give yourselves the assignment of writing down your personal goals. Be sure to include financial, personal, short term and long term goals.

Set a “date” to discuss what you've each written. You may even want to get out of the house to share your lists.

Concentrate on really listening to what your partner is telling you. Ask questions, and be careful not to judge what they've written.

Ask your partner why they want what they want, and what their goals really mean to them.

It's my hunch that in doing this exercise, you'll not only open the lines of communication back up, but also gain some awareness around why your business is currently struggling.

“Just Believe”,^®

P.S: The Neagle Code: DIRECTIONS for LIFE is a weekly no-cost program that is open to everyone! Each week, I'll select and personally respond to one question received via the above “The Neagle Code” page that I feel in my heart will help the most people. (You may choose to remain anonymous if you wish, with our full support.) It is my deep, heartfelt intention that ~ in answering your questions ~ I may provide you with the Universal Truths that in committed application, will set you free. Simply submit YOUR burning question at: www.TheNeagleCode.com to participate.

P.P.S.: May I ask you to help me spread the word about this program? Is there someone you care for who is stuck, or struggling, or lost, or unhappy? Because if so, I would very much like to help. No matter their question, no matter their predicament, no matter if they've never heard of me before … if they would like to ask for help via www.TheNeagleCode.com, my Team and I will do our very best to provide that help.

Have you ever asked yourself, “What is with this relationship?”

Have ever reached a point in your life where you just wonder if the people you are surrounding yourself with are helping you or hindering you?

Every relationship – good or bad – has it's own potential and they fall into four basic types:

1. Relationships that add.
2. Relationships that subtract.
3. Relationships that multiply.
4. Relationships that divide.

What happens when you become aware that one or more of your relationships is either subtracting or dividing from you? You are left with the option to resist this reality OR you can bring truth to it and simply accept it as “not working.”

So what does this mean for you? Good question…

It means one of three things:

1. Maybe the relationship was just for a season.

You needed to learn something or there may have been a purpose the relationship brought to your life. The dangerous thing to do is to hold onto it when the universe is telling you it's time to let go. If you hold onto this kind of relationship it will pull you down and destroy you. Remember this relationship was only “seasonal,” and if you hold on too long – what was once delightful will become destructive.

2.You are in a relationship where you think you will change the other person.

There is an old saying that “people change but not much,” and this is really true when it comes to the core values of other people. It is really rare that a person will do enough work on themselves to change their value or belief system if it is warranted. If you think you will change a person to fit your needs you are misleading yourself. Only they can want to change, and you can't want it more for them then they want it for themselves.

3.You are in a relationship that holds you in your past.

Some people will absolutely refuse to let go of who you were or what you did in your past. As long as you surround yourself with these people it will prevent you from completing your transformation of what you want to be. Oftentimes, others will attempt to put you on a guilt trip for trying to change. “Who do you think you are?” “Are you better than us?” “Are
you a big shot now?” All of this in an attempt to hold you in the same place where they are.

When the space shuttle takes off, the rocket boosters that propel the shuttle into space burn out and fall off at a certain point. If they didn't, they would destroy the shuttle. Pull it back down to earth.

Some of the people in your life that have been here for a season have been boosters but only for a time – a season – now it's time to move on.

You need to surround yourself with people that have the mentality that you want – not that you have.

Does this have an affect on your business?

Your business is nothing more than an extension of you, so if you are not growing because of toxic relationships, neither is your business.

The question is then…

“What are you going to do about it?”

Do you have a mindset for success?