Do You Have A Blind Spot?
Posted on 17 March 2010
With more than 20 years of small business experience under my belt, and especially with my current position as executive director of NAPP, I regularly have people ask me questions about what to do in their small business. I always do what I can to offer the best possible advice or direction. Sometimes I’ve been exactly where that person is and I have a great idea that will work. Sometimes I have experience with state-of-the-art solutions I see others using successfully and I point them in that direction. Sometimes I’m not sure what specific action I would take, but I offer some places to research best practices. And sometimes I can make an introduction to a key person in their area of interest. It’s always rewarding when I can help someone, but I realize that sometimes people decide to take a different path than what I suggest. Of course that’s fine. You’ve got to do what’s right for you, and if you’re successful (because of me or not) I will absolutely rejoice in your successes!
Now, this article isn’t about my advice in particular and how good it is or isn’t. This article is about being in the right state of mind to accept help or advice from someone else, or even come up with your own creative solutions. If you’re depressed or down… if you’re angry… it’s very unlikely you’ll even hear the advice. You might hear the words or suggestions, but when someone is in a negative frame of mind, their brain receives information which is intended to be helpful advice and suggestions, but it treats them as a challenge that must be overcome. When someone is truly committed to being angry or depressed, they want to be right about being negative. So hopeful, positive suggestions simply must be wrong and their brain comes up with ways to fight the suggestions.
That is a blind spot.
No matter the source, for good advice or creative thinking to work, you have to be in a positive frame of mind and open to the possibility of good things happening. Before you start planning your new marketing campaign, or before you meet with someone about business advice, do something to put yourself in a good mood. Exercise. Play great music. Have a nice (not too heavy) meal. Get in a good mood first, and then explore the possibilities with an open mind.
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