Entrepreneur are you really passionate about your business, product or service? And would you go as far to say that you have unconditional love for your business?
Careful, because it’s this unconditional love approach than can and does often lead to trouble.(And in some extreme cases bankruptcy!)
For instance; some entrepreneurs/small business owners are such zealots about what they do, that they actually lose sight of “what” their ultimate goal really is!
Which of course is to maximize profits, while serving their valued customer/client base in the process.
Of course right now, you find that hard to believe! But hang on for just a second, and you’ll get concrete proof that this is indeed the case. And far more often than not. Of course you need passion to help fuel the long term vision of your business.
But if you’re not careful and or strategic in your approach, it’s that very same single minded focus, that can and will cost you a ton of long term potential profit!
How And Why Unconditional Love Can Be Potentially Dangerous To The Long Term Profit Potential Of Your Business!
Okay, let’s cut to the chase and address your healthy skepticism about how incredibly powerful unconditional love (and or) passion if you prefer, can be potentially dangerous to the long term health and profitability of your business.
Here’s the first ex: a while back during a live webinar being hosted by a very successful full time Internet marketer, that just also happens to be one of my coaches! As she was doing a rather intense and in depth critique of my blog, (basically pulling no punches!) she mentioned “how” very annoying that my popup opt in box was!
And “how” even though they were rumored to be effective, she had no use for them, and simply refused to use them! Okay, well unbeknownst to her, my popup opt in box actually out performs (both) my inline opt in box and opt in box at the bottom of each blog post by at least 500%! (Seriously!) The numbers back that statement up!
So there is simply no way, that I’m going to discontinue using it! But my main point is this, far too many times I’ve witnessed that exact same mindset by other would be serious entrepreneurs.(Both on and offline.)
Meaning; they will avoid doing and or applying a strategy and or tactic that’s proven to work, simply because they (personally) don’t like it or because it’s not as convenient as something else!Huh? Even if what they’re currently doing isn’t profitable! That’s the unconditional love part that’s being referred to here!
Case in point: lots of times you come across struggling (really) small local retailers. And when you do (what) yours truly likes to refer to as a (floor walk) pre -inventory cash flow analysis.
Here’s “what” you often discover. The entrepreneur, which usually has owned the struggling business for several years. They’ll often have at least two items on their floor space with two distinct (and easily measurable) gross profits margins.
1.) Item # one: Item number one is (typically) some item that the entrepreneur has sold for many years! And it may even be something that they personally created and or a spouse or significant other or other family member created etc.
2.) Item # two: And item # two is something that they’ve recently started selling successfully. So here’s the dilemma; item # one while extremely close to the owner/s heart, it only has a gross profit margin of 13%. At best!
And item # two, (amazingly) has a gross profit margin of 37%! Or more! But here’s the rub!
The entrepreneur for some odd reason allows the item with the gross profit margin of just 13% to take up (more like) monopolize a staggering 60% of the available floor space!Huh?
While limiting the far better selling item # two, to just 20% (or less) of the available floor space! You see what I’m saying about being blinded by this (potentially destructive) unconditional love approach to their business!
And far more times than not, as you try (usually in vain) initially anyway, to point out “how” their extreme misuse of their limited floor space is in fact costing them money! (And potentially lots of it.)
They initially try and rationalize their decisions! Some of them come around, while others clearly don’t! And you know “what” they say about leading the horse to water, right?
Be Or Remain As Passionate As You Possibly Can! (Just Don’t Let Your Passion Out Weight Your Long Term Good Judgement!)
Well, in any event, hopefully you can see and better appreciate how, in some instances, unconditional love, can be potentially destructive to your long term profit generating potential! Don’t you agree?
Please share your much valued comments (in the comments section below) that you can apply to your business, product or service in the next 30 days or less!
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Hi Mark,
A slight twist on your post: My coach and I have been having a battle for over a year now because I will not follow her guidance on social media platforms. While I do value her expertise and I do want to do what works in business, I dig my heels in when in comes to sharing on social media. She wants me to also share personal details and it is just not going to ever happen, no matter what statistics report. Perhaps if I were not running a profitable business I might consider it.
I just don’t believe in doing things that I hate. It is bad for business. Really! There is more than one way to build a business and one should follow their feeling–they know you.
Rachel Lavern recently posted…Business Lessons Learned While Hiking
I agree with you Rachel!
Because nobodies going to stick with something that they don’t believe in!
And as far as sharing really personal and or business matters on social media,
I couldn’t agree more!
That’s simply not the place for that type of information to be shared! So I have no idea
where your coach is coming from, but kudos for you for sticking to your guns!
As always, thanks for stopping by and sharing your extremely valuable feedback!
And for your continuous support!Both are greatly appreciated!
Mark Newsome recently posted…Three Can’t Miss Signs That You’ve Probably Selected A Highly Profitable Niche Market!
Really great topic Mark. I put a lot of effort into growing my first blog and even won a few awards as a result of shear will and determination, but the focus was far too general and the domain did a lousy job of saying what the site was about so the bounce rate was obscene.
At the end of last year I felt I’d come to a crossroad. Hang on and keep slogging uphill or shut it down and start over the right way using everything I’d learned and of course as you know I chose the later. It was tough letting go and starting over but it was the right decision. Thanks for the great read and inspiration!
Marquita Herald recently posted…24 Simple Ways to Make a Difference this Holiday Season
Been there and done that M!
So i definitely get it! Without a doubt, the second hardest part is finally deciding to move on!
You’re torn between all the effort you’ve put in and and finally realizing that
it’ simply to steep a hill to continue to climb!
And let’s face it, starting over is emotionally draining! Lucky for
us you made the right decision and decided to start over, only this time armed with
the right information.
Letting go!There’s a topi for you M!LOL!I’m sure you’ve shared your thoughts on that subject
many times!
As always, thanks for sharing your extremely valuable thoughts and your continuous support!
Bot are greatly appreciated!
Mark Newsome recently posted…Three Can’t Miss Signs That You’ve Probably Selected A Highly Profitable Niche Market!
Hello Mark,
Unconditional love can destroy business it is proven for me because I have faced this situation.
I learned there that business should be like business it should not be like any relationship 🙂
Sumit Thakur recently posted…Why you should not feel shy that you are a blogger?
Very good point Sumit!
Business is definitely business and relationships is something else
altogether!
As long as you’ve truly learned the difference, the experience was probably
worth it!
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!
Your extremely valuable feedback is much appreciated!
Hi Mark,
I don’t know if it’s unconditional love, or the inability to let go of the time and money invested, but I’ve been there a few times over the years, hanging on to something I had been passionate about.
This past month I came to the sad realization that one of my “great ideas” wasn’t so great. I’d poured a lot into it, and the returns had been slim. It wasn’t for lack of promotion. The marketplace was sending me a message. What I feared most, I believe was getting up without a to do list and clearly defined goals. What would I do, if this wasn’t my cause any more?
I admit it was a somber weekend, but I decided the best thing to do was, as Kevin O’Leary advocates, take it behind the barn and shoot it.
– Cole
Cole Wiebe recently posted…Are You Asking All the Wrong Content Strategy Questions?
Here here Cole!
We’ve all been there my friend! And so of us more than once!LOL!
First of all, it’s good to see you back, it’s been too long!
Hey, the good news is, there is clearly something far more profitable for you
to be doing and another extremely valuable product or service for you to
be promoting to your niche!
All we can do is give it our best!And if it’s not what they want, move on!
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your extremely valuable feedback!
It’s been way to long since yo stopped by!