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Hiring an expert can be a great way to achieve results in your business and life. Especially for areas you lack experience of or that aren’t your strength. The problem is that whilst there are high quality operators out there, there are also many wolves in sheep’s clothing. The message is simple when hiring an expert – Buyer Beware!
A Personal Story
Over the last 10 years, on and off, I have hired a few experts. I have a strict criteria for hiring experts. As a result, I have worked with really good quality people and achieved great results by working with them – until last year!
Last year, for the first time ever and for reasons that still elude me, I broke my own hiring experts rules. As a result, I got my fingers badly burnt. I was so annoyed with myself afterwards and felt so stupid for making such a huge mistake, especially as the warning signs were all there from the start. I learnt a hard but valuable lesson on what can happen if you don’t follow your own rules.
Warnings!
- Some people will portray themselves as experts in a field even when they are not.
- Don’t confuse having a high profile with being a high quality expert. Having a high profile doesn’t always mean they are good at what they do. Sometimes it is just means they are good at self promotion.
- Not everyone operates on the same level of standards, ethics and integrity.
Tips when hiring experts
- Do NOT pay up front in full without a watertight agreement in place that covers getting your money back if you are not happy with the quality of their service. If your expert doesn’t offer an agreement or contract at the start that includes this point, walk away.
- Are they REALLY an expert in their field? Really dig behind the public image and sales pitch. Where is the hard evidence?
- Be clear and specific on what you want to achieve before hiring. Check they have the credentials, skills and experience to deliver this.
- If you have made a mistake get out and get out fast before any more damage can be done to your business.
Remember the onus is on YOU to have a strict hiring criteria and stick to it.
What are you experiences of hiring experts? Feel free to share them and any tips or advice you might have on this subject in the comments below.
There are many factors that contribute to whether Home-Based and Small Business Owners will achieve the results that they want in their business and lifestyle. Things such as clear and specific goals, an effective business strategy, a successful business owners mindset, to name but a few.
However, sometimes it is the quite small and simple things, that are often overlooked, that can have a huge impact. They can create change and results really effectively. One of the things that falls into this category is asking questions. Let me explain:
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Last week I decided to call a stop to everything that was going on in my business – and I mean everything.
Why I Stopped Everything in my Business
I have a lot of new projects on at the moment and have been trying to fit moving them all forward round my son’s school hours. The results was that last week, I found myself feeling more than a tad overwhelmed and family life was being affected. Now, those of you that know me know that my business impacting my family is an absolute no-no. That is why I stopped everything.
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There is only one obstacle to success. Yes, only one -YOU! Let me explain:
The confusion over business obstacles
Most people confuse day to day circumstances and situations as obstacles and setbacks. They aren’t. They are just things to be dealt with. They only become obstacles and setbacks when we apply that label to them. I am talking about things like not enough clients, not enough hours in the day to get things done and so on. Stop seeing circumstances and situations as obstacles and setbacks. They aren’t, you have just been conditioned to think that they are. They are just part of the normal ebb and flow of business and life.
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Even with a really strong business vision, strategy, goals and action plans you are not immune from failing to achieve the success you want. Let me explain why:
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This is post 3 of a 5 day series. Post 1: 5 days to Change for Success – Day 1: Clear the decks! Post 2: 5 days to Change for Success – Day 2: Building Strong Foundations
In the previous two posts we focussed on clearing the decks and putting some strong foundations in place. Now it is time to get into action.
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In the first post of this 5 day series 5 days to Change for Success – Day 1: Clear the decks! we started to clear the path ready for creating strong foundations.
Why are strong foundations important?
If a builder didn’t put strong foundations in place, what he is building is likely to fall down and not be fit for purpose. The same is true for creating success in your business, lifestyle or family life – the stronger the foundations, the better results you will get.
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In the previous post Is your Business a Vampire? we talked about how many small business owners feel that their business is sucking the life out of them and they aren’t getting the results or success they want, professionally or personally. In this five part series we are going to start taking actions to turn that around.
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Do you feel that your business is sucking the life out of you? If so, what you have on your hands is the business equivalent of a vampire.
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This question is one really close to my heart. First of all, let me share where I stand on this: I absolutely believe that working for yourself is not just the key to freedom but the ONLY way to real freedom. Let me explain where I am coming from on this:
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Hiring an expert can be a great way to achieve results in your business and life. Especially for areas you lack experience of or that aren’t your strength. The problem is that whilst there are high quality operators out there, there are also many wolves in sheep’s clothing. The message is simple when hiring an expert – Buyer Beware!
