Laziness?

I read an article recently about a professor. He noticed he was always running out of time, as his students demanded so much of him, and were always asking him for things that he needed to go and look up in order to give them a correct and up to date answer. Then he began to think about it and figured out that what they were asking him, were most often things that they themselves could also actually Google or find. They only laid it on his plate as he had not thought to push it back to him. So he started doing a once a day email hour where they could ask things, but if they asked anything they could do themselves, he would simply push it back to them.

This is something I see a lot in businesses too. Frequently, people ask you for help or advice on a particular topic. And you happily answer, sharing what you have learnt. And then the next thing is you find yourself doing their work for them – not because you have any more time then they do, but somehow it is expected of you and you haven’t stopped to wonder why they are not capable of tackling the issue themselves.

As an Entrepreneur you have to understand you have absolutely no one to blame but  yourself, no one to rely on but you, and no one to chase for answers but your own person. Don’t ask someone else to do something for you that you can do in just as much time.

On that point – is it a crazy thought that if someone does you a favour, you actually openly appreciate that?? In the real world we all live in, it isn’t necessarily the time someone spends for you on something that determines the value of its outcome. It is the value to you, to your business, that counts. If someone makes an introduction that leads you to a new client – acknowledge or even reward the person making that intro. Don’t just say, as I have heard too many times now to be true, “oh, it only cost you a phone call, that was nothing”. You don’t know how many dinners, how many hours it has taken that person to cultivate the relationship to the point that they could pick up the phone and make that one call FOR YOU. How hard can it be actually acknowledge that and ensure the person knows you appreciate what it may have cost them? And you know what, if you do show appreciation, it will lead to more of these great introductions actually helping you again and again and again.

With the progression of instant results and instant gratification, folks seem to also expect businesses to almost run themselves. If things don’t quite go the way they would like, they want it to get fixed overnight … and that is the long term. In a way, I am no different in that I always have this sense of urgency, I don’t want to leave anything to chance, and certainly won’t wait till tomorrow to act on new ideas or making a call or looking up a possible new direction. But I will never expect others to do it for me. Take pride in finding your own way, and solving your own issues – and be grateful for everyone lending you a hand along the way.

Marion

1 Comments

---

• Tahsin Gunaltay | Sep 17, 2009 04:36 AM

  Marion,
  
  I fully agree with your statements. As it is rightly said; "God helps those who help themselves".
  
  You need to appreciate the people who helps you in reaching your goals, and give them feedback and show gratitude for their support.
  
  Tahsin

Topics

• Business
• Events
• Fashion
• Funding
• Gadgets
• Luxury Goods
• Management
• Networking
• Sales
• Sport
• Technology
• Travel

Contributing

• 
  Adjiedj Bakas

• 
  Sven Jonker

• 
  Bart Jenezon