How I Learned To Ask For Help

About six months ago, a friend asked me the following five questions (I’m paraphrasing of course):

1. Do you want to grow your business?
2. Do you have all the answers?
3. Can you do everything?
4. Do you know everything?
5. Do you have all the time in the world?

Of course, I managed to answer “yes” to all five without batting an eye (just kidding). The reality is that I had to answer “No” to each and every question until, frankly, it started to get annoying. But here’s the wisdom that was bestowed upon me: “Then why aren’t you asking for help?“

For most of my adult life, I have succeeded at most everything I’ve tried to do. While I’m proud to say that, I’m also embarrassed to admit that I never recognized just how bad I was at a lot of things. I was successful because my strengths usually overcame my weaknesses, not because I was some sort of superhuman.

Frankly, I was more than a little lucky too – I’ve usually been surrounded by people who cared enough about me to offer me guidance and advice.

Still, it took me about 30 years to recognize that I should stop trying to do it all. Six months ago, I recognized the need to ask for help. Since that time, I’ve improved the quality of my work, increased my productivity, boosted my business, and I’ve never been more happy or successful.

The funny part is that I was already asking for help in a lot of areas. I got help with taxes and payroll, legal services, banking services, writing and communications…the list goes on and on. Yet in some areas I was trying to “save” money, so I decided I’d rather do [blank] myself than pay someone with talent and experience to do a great job. The net result? Trying to do everything was costing me money.

For example: I used to think that I was a web designer – it took me nearly 18 months to recognize that I couldn’t build a good looking website to save my life (I have extremely limited artistic skill). When I stopped trying to design websites and got some help from some people that were artistic, I was able to focus on making the websites easier for search engines to find (something I’m pretty darn good at), marketing these sites, etc.

Today, I outsource all web design. The websites we’re making have never been prettier and the SEO results have never been better…and my business has never been stronger. I was holding myself back by trying to do everything.

I’ve spoken to clients who fell into the same trap that I fell into – trying to do it all – when it came to Internet marketing. With my help, these people are making more money and seeing an excellent return on our investment. I’m proud to say that I’m helping others as much as I’m asking for help.

I’m not saying that a business owner can’t do any online marketing themselves – far from it. There are plenty of things anyone can do to market their business online (here’s a list of 10). Still, when it comes right down to it, hiring a professional to market online is no different than hiring a professional to fix the roof on your house or do your taxes. When you hire a pro, you get professional results.

As always, if you’re wondering how Spork Marketing can help you and your business, contact us. Our initial consultation is free, and we never take on a client unless we know we can help (i.e. “move the needle.”) If we can’t help you, or if we’re not sure about the impact our work will have, we’ll tell you without hesitation. Give us a shout.

Jason