Ever notice how when you have a business of your own, everyone in the world has a "great idea" for you?
People often say to me, "Why don't you call so-and-so in the little town of East Cupcake who owns a cute little gift shop and likes shortbread?" Then they come back to me a week later and say, "Did you call so-and-so yet?"
Well, let's see here (this is what my sarcastic alter-ego wants to say)..."I've put in a 40 hour week at my full time IBM job, an additional 30 hours at Vermont Shortbread, served on 3 volunteer boards of directors, I've taken care of a house with 3 kids, 3 pets, and a spouse, made 7 dinners, grocery shopped, haven't had a shower in 3 days, and gee whiz...nope, I haven't called so-and-so."
This is what I actually say, "Thank you so much for your idea. I'll put it in the idea file." And I do. I have an idea file. It's humongous. I will never personally get to each idea in the file. It's physically impossible. This doesn't mean I don't want to grow my business. This doesn't mean I don't like the idea. It doesn't mean I don't want to work with the person who volunteered the idea. It simply means that I've learned I've got to sift through a lot of stuff every day and decide what is top priority and what's going to have to wait.
As a business owner, part of my job is to continue sifting and re-sifting every day. And it may mean I irritate people along the way when I don't jumpto act on every little "opportunity" that comes my way. It's not my job to please everyone. My ONLY job to make wise decisions to keep the business running and please my current customers. I think part of the moving from being a clerk versus being a CEO in your business is learning the fine art of sifting and prioritizing and not taking it personally when the idea-givers get irritated. (I think it's called developing a "thick skin" in the biz world and mine is thickening ever so slowly; much too slowly for my liking.)
Here's what I've learned as an entrepreneur dealing with other entrepreneurs:
- Give advice only when asked for it.
- If you have a truly great idea for another entrepreneur, share it. I always preclude my "great" ideas with, "Use it or toss it as you see fit." If you're putting the idea up for grabs, then just let it go.
- Recognize that you don't know the entire story about other people's businesses and lives. Resist the urge to be judgmental about others' decisions regarding their businesses.
- Develop a thicker skin, but never lose compassion. The world needs more responsible, authentic, honest entrepreneurs who aren't afraid to reveal their weaknesses, mistakes, and humanity.
Yep, I may be a sensitive sap, who goes into serious sensory overload and upset when there's too much input (like when Chopin is playing as background music at my favorite restaurant), and I get less than 6 hours of sleep but that isn't going to change AND I'm developing a thicker skin. I can and will continue to do both. It's what my favorite people and customers like about me. It's part of my brand.
Today I just needed to rant. Thanks for reading.
Today top priority is getting holiday orders in the mail to my amazing, wonderful, coming-out-of-the-woodwork customers. I love the folks who are helping to make it happen: customers and people I pay to help me. I get weepy just thinking about what we've created together. Really.
That's it. Pure and simple. Off I go to the bakery...
From the Vermont Shortbread Company bakery (where it smells wonderful today),
Ann
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