The other night, I had the pleasure of having dinner with a fellow speaker, trainer, and friend named Bryan. Bryan and I were both speaking at a trade association show. Before Bryan’s seminar, we were talking, and he was asking me a lot of questions about the participants, the group, and the industry. Bryan speaks to a wide variety of industries and businesses.
Later at dinner, he mentioned that one of the biggest issues with independent business owners is that they are uncoachable—and that you cannot coach the uncoachable. His words didn’t immediately sink in; in fact, it took a couple of days before I truly understood. Once I did, it hit me hard.
At this particular show, tables were set up where participants could receive free advice from nine industry experts. All they had to do was either make an appointment or simply show up. Out of approximately 650 business owners in attendance, fewer than 5% took advantage of this free service. Let me repeat that—fewer than 5% sought out expert advice that could give them a competitive edge. That speaks volumes, not just about the state of the industry but about the mindset of many business owners today.
Interestingly, most of the people who did seek advice were already among the most successful in the group. One young man who spoke with me had grown his store from under a million dollars in sales to over three million in just a few years. He told me that once he fully implemented the systems we had introduced years ago, his company grew at an incredible pace—even in a down economy. Now, he wanted to know what he needed to do to reach his next milestone: five million in sales.
This scenario repeated itself multiple times throughout the show, and that’s when I truly understood Bryan’s point.
This young man was coachable. He wanted to be coached.
If you are not coachable—if you don’t seek the knowledge to understand what you don’t know—how can you possibly coach your own people? You can’t! The most successful individuals are those who continuously seek knowledge and education at every level. They are the movers and shakers, the ones always looking to industry experts and professionals to help them reach the next level. They budget for personal growth and development and invest in themselves and their teams. They understand that their people are their most valuable asset.
At dinner, Bryan and I discussed why so many business owners resist being coached. I believe there are many reasons: arrogance, ignorance, complacency, ego, lack of time, the belief that they already know everything, financial concerns, comfort with the status quo, and even fear. The list goes on and on.
We had a great conversation, sharing insights and stories. Near the end of the meal, Bryan asked what he could do for me. At that moment, I didn’t have an answer. But a couple of days later, it clicked.
Before his seminar, Bryan had been asking me a lot of questions. Now I understand why—he was coaching himself on this particular audience and industry. As successful as he is, he still wants and needs coaching.
So, Bryan, here’s my answer: Any coaching you can give me will be welcomed, appreciated, and implemented.
If you want to grow your business, reach the next level, survive tough times, maximize opportunities, and achieve your goals, seek knowledge. Be humble enough to acknowledge that you don’t know everything. There is nothing wrong with admitting you need help—on the contrary, it’s admirable. It’s also exactly what the most successful people do.
Tips for Maximum Benefit
- Reread this information and write down your top two takeaways.
- Reflect on how they apply to your situation.
- When speaking with your audience, develop your own stories and analogies to illustrate these principles.
- Share your biggest takeaway in the comments. I would love to hear from you.