Maybe you can help me solve a dilemma I’m wrestling with.

What would you do if you were faced with a decision about whether to stick with a proven formula for success or to depart from it because your heart wasn’t into the things it required?

The success formula I’ve been given works well for the great majority of people who follow it. It requires tailoring to find “the sweet spot” for each person, but it will produce results for a business owner who follows it diligently.

The catch is that it requires a constant investment of 60-90% of one’s time on activities that, for me, are a drain and demotivator. I have proven to myself that I can do them if I have to, but they are “have to’s,”rather than “want to’s.”

It drains my energy and is not sustainable long-term.

Other entrepreneurs I’ve talked to and interviewed give pretty much the same advice: “Follow the formula. Do what it takes. Don’t give up. Press on.” But they also say, “Be creative. If you fail at something, find another way. Be innovative.”

I’m not sure that the formula will work for me as given. My work values include things like, “smarter, not harder,” “focus on what you are good at and outsource the rest,” and “a few really good relationships far outweigh a lot of friendly but more superficial ones.”

This pushes me away from the formula and toward what could be a more valuable use of my energy… if I find a solution that works.

For me, it’s the marketing side of the business. For you, it might be something else.

Speaking objectively, based on results and feedback from others, I am a great coach, trainer, and learning leader. I’m a good writer. I help people ease their business and leadership pains by finding clarity, enabling growth, and strengthening leadership.

I am not good at spreading the word about what I do, though. At least, I’m not booking enough calls with people who have both a learning need and a budget to spend on it.

I can easily find effective and affordable solutions once I start talking with people about their needs. I can fit their timelines and budgets and I can help them get the insights and build the skills to make real, lasting changes for themselves and their businesses. But I need more of those opportunities to talk. Finding them isn’t my strong suit.

Maybe you’ve run into this kind of problem. You can handle one part of the business value chain with ease, but it’s like pulling teeth to do another part.

Theoretically, the ideal option is to delegate the things that are difficult for you to someone who is good at and enjoys doing them. Then you can devote your energy to what you do best. But how do you make that happen? What can you delegate, and to whom?

When it comes down to a choice, which of your values most drive your decision?

In my case, I am asking more people (like you) for help. Who else can I talk to who might have a need for the kind of coaching and training I do? Or, better yet, who might be a great partner who can help me find those clients?

As you think about this, please reply and send me your ideas.

And I am curious to know how you tend to handle this kind of decision! What kind of dilemmas do you wrestle with and how do you solve them?

For now, I continue to write and set up the Circuit Breakers podcasts as I experiment with different things. If this newsletter is helpful, send it on to someone you know. I will continue to share tips and thoughts each week.

I hope you enjoy it, whatever decisions you might be wrestling with.

Thanks for your continued support. I appreciate it greatly.
–Steve

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