My wife thinks I'm crazy that I don't have any maps in my car. She's probably right as I don't even have them with me when we go on long trips to an area I'm not familiar with. Sometimes it gets me in trouble. Some day I'll learn my lesson (the good thing, or bad thing for her, is that she has an outstanding sense of direction and saves me frequently).
I remember one trip a few years ago, we were driving down a relatively familiar interstate highway late at night. After awhile I realized I was unsure of where I was as the surroundings were difficult to make out in the dark and the most recent exit markers I didn't recognize as being on our path.
But being the macho male driver (you know, the kind that has a fear of asking for directions?), I kept driving sure I would see something I would recognize soon. After about an hour my wife woke up and asked me where we were to which I answered, "I'm not sure," and got a glare in return.
She convinced me to get off at the next exit and ask at a service station where the connection to the next interstate we were looking for was. It was 55 miles behind us. I had missed the exit.
My opportunity for taking the right course had passed me by. I couldn't believe it. I was sure my opportunity was coming up sometime soon. But, alas, I had missed it and drove an hour out of our way meaning we were two hours out of our way as we had to backtrack.
What does this have to do with business success?
It's very much like the conversations I have with people who come to me and think they want help with their business. Many of them go like this:
Prospect: "Right now just isn't the right time to take on even more responsibility such as a coaching program. I expect I'll give you a call someday soon when I'm ready."
Skip: "OK, that's not a problem. Can I ask you a question."
Prospect: "Sure."
Skip: "How will you know when you'll be ready? What do things have to be like in your life and business so that you'll know you're ready?
Prospect: "Well, my life won't be so hectic, and I'll have time open in my schedule to participate in what you're offering."
Skip: "OK, that makes sense. I'm just wondering, when was the last time your life and business weren't so hectic and you had extra time to add something to it?"
Prospect: "(Laughing) It's been such a long time I can't remember."
You see, the prospect is just like me when I'm driving. I was focusing on my exit coming up sometime, and they're focusing on some day when their business situation will be right to get they help they want and need.
I missed my exit and didn't even know it until I made a detour and asked for help. I was able to get back on track, but I had to go 120 miles or so out of my way to do it.
How many more days of operating your business waiting for 'someday' can you afford? What is the equivalent of being 120 miles out of your way in running your business? Is that a price you're willing to pay to wait for 'some day' to arrive?
As 60s & 70s rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival sang - "Some Day Never Comes."
Source: http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Skip Weisman
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