“The wise man doesn’t give the right answers, he poses the right questions.” –Claude Levi-Strauss
Have you ever felt like you were running into a brick wall, over and over and over?
Most of us have—whether in business, in relationships, or in everyday life. In the years I have spent working with home staging professionals, I’ve dealt with such frustrated business owners more times than I can count. The specifics of their frustrations vary, but the general theme is almost always the same: No matter what they do, they just can’t find a way to grow their business beyond a certain level.
For some, that level may be the point at which they can hire their first employee. For others, it may be moving in to a new market. And for others, it may be stepping back from the day-to-day management of their business.
These business owners have a similar refrain: “I’ve tried everything. And nothing works!”
Over the years, I have learned a profound truth: If you can’t find the answer to a question despite your best efforts, there is a good chance that you are asking the wrong question to begin with.
The key to success in business isn’t having all the answers—it’s knowing which questions to ask. Whether it’s finding a way to reach prospects more effectively or looking for ways to reduce cost, often the best course of action is to back up and re-think your assumptions.
Rather than asking HOW you can reach a specific niche market, you may need to ask WHETHER attempting to reach that market is a good idea.
Rather than trying to adjust a sales pitch that simply isn’t working, you may need to step back and ask what it is that your prospects are truly looking for.
We all have assumptions that we carry with us every single day, everywhere we go. Often, it is those assumptions that keep us from asking the right questions and keep us running into that brick wall over and over.
So if you are frustrated with an element of your business, try this: Take a deep breath, relax, and challenge your assumptions. Are you investing time and energy into an initiative that stands little chance of success? Or that will provide little benefit if it does succeed?
You don’t have to have all of the answers to be successful in the home staging industry. But you do have to learn to ask the right questions. Contact us today to learn more!
