Lessons I’ve learned in 06 months of running my full time business.
Happy 6th month anniversary to Wholesale Recruiting Solutions! When I started this firm, I really thought that after 20+ years of experience in the electrical distribution channel, I knew it all. Not so much; here’s a little of what I’ve learned over the last 6 months:
1. People buy from people.
One of the things that was most intimidating when opening this firm was walking away from my contacts and historical data. I felt I really needed to up my marketing game. What I’ve learned, though, is that people buy people, especially in my industry. It doesn’t matter if you have slick marketing materials, as long as you truly care about doing a good job and building relationships with people. Which is lucky for me because it’s my favorite part of what I do.
2. With a strong foundation, I can weather any storm.
I’m happy to report that my business is not only surviving but also thriving, and I credit so much of that to the work I did to get my foundations right and master my craft.
3. Old ways no longer serve me in my new world.
Being forced to step away from a career that spans 24 years and rebuild it from scratch really allows you to take a deep dive into what and how you do things. I am not too surprised to learn there is an entirely new world of resources I never knew existed.
4. I am a lone wolf.
I am most effective when I am left to do what I do best. This is what I do best, and if I could get back the THOUSANDS of hours spent on having meetings, my success would have come so much faster!
5. My intuition is usually right.
Another habit from my old career that I brought with me into my business was an obsession with data and research. In my old job, you only made a decision after analyzing the data and getting the opinion of everyone in the firm, and I thought I needed the same thing in my own business. In reality, that just slows the process. I also realized that I could get the right answer by simply listening more than I talk and listening to my gut. I’ve given myself permission to build something that feels more intuitive, and that feels great!
6. I was arrogant.
Most of my clients came to me rather than the other way around, which sort of allowed me to capitalize on the percentage I charged. It’s another example of “I’ve always done it this way” that no longer serves me. After really understanding the business and profit levels, I can now offer the same service at a lower percentage, and both parties are happy.
7. I am my own best cheerleader.
I used to feed my ego by being the best, actually, I was better than the best, and knew that no one would produce at my level. I loved it, but that is gone now, and I’ve found that when I push away from my desk each day, I know I killed it, and that’s now enough for me.
And an honorable mention. I wish I had named the company something shorter!
You can contact me at 847-571-7080 or [email protected]