The car window was down and I was enjoying four things at once: sunshine, a gentle summer breeze, a cup of joe and the daily news. In the middle of an article about new efforts to solve a 25 year old crime the voice of someone shouting interrupted my solitude.
"What's that?" I wondered and folded down the paper to see where the shouting originated. To the left was an oil change guy waving a placard at passersby. To the right was an empty parking lot, the oil change place with some cars waiting, and, of course, the Golden Arches where I had purchased my McCafe. The voice sounded far away but I did not see anything noteworthy.
Back to my article.
The shouting started up again and I tried to ignore it.
The voice sounded more urgent. Something's going on right outside my car window somewhere. It was not a conversation - there was only one voice. Someone was yelling to get attention. I re-examined what was in front of me.
To the left was Mr. Placard Waving Guy dancing to himself with his iPod and bouncing the $10 special for all to see. Pan over to the right and the Oil Change Place had about 6 cars lined up for service. Advertising works if you can find the right way to advertise. I momentarily wondered if I could get some guy to stand on the street and wave a placard at passersby, "The Growth Coach offers FREE Consult!" Nah, probably not.
Standing on the edge of an overgrown field of weeds stood another Oil Change Guy. He was yelling.
Ohhhhh. Now it makes sense. He was yelling to Mr. Placard Waving Guy with the earbuds. He was needed back at the shop to help handle the increase in customers. Got it. But Mr. Placard Waving Guy could not hear because he was too busy dancing in his own little world while doing his job of advertising.
Time to go. I folded up my paper, drank the last bit of coffee, started my car and backed up. Very slowly I drove up to Mr. Placard Waving Guy and stopped. "Hey, they're trying to get your attention!" He leaned down, took the earbuds out and said, "What?"
"They're calling for you!"
Turning to look, he heard the shop calling. "Oh."
*******
Not too long ago I was listening to a business owner tell me about his current situation. It became clear as he talked that he was like Mr. Placard Waving Guy. He was so engrossed in doing what he thought he should be doing that he completely could not hear a screaming need in another area of his business.
My trusty pen sketched on the paper in front of him what I was hearing. "It seems to me like you've got a situation over here that needs your attention."
"Oh," he said, "You're right. I better take care of that."
*******
The benefit of objectivity can help a business owner see the bigger picture and address the most important issues. Cut through the clutter and get out of the same old ineffective routines! Start by taking out the earbuds piping in the mental music you are accustomed to and listen to what's really going on in your business.
By the way, the Growth Coach offers a free consult to objectively listen and help you assess what is trying to get your attention.
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