On Wednesday this week, we celebrated 19 years in business. Woohoo!

Reflecting back over the years, I recalled my first goal was to still be in business after 1 year.

When I made it to one year, the next goal was to make it to 5 years.

Sadly, achieving this goal was against the odds.

When 5 years came, I set the goal for 10, then 15 and now at 19 years, my goal is to make 20 years.

It all started by working with a friend to help her document her procedures, a bonus was her getting an extra day a month in time.

I was hooked.

I loved learning about what other people do in their businesses and how clever they are.

I love solving problems and so 3 weeks after asking my boss for part-time, I found myself in business with no plan, no capital and no idea.

When you jump in the deep end you have two choices, sink or swim.

It’s been a wild ride and I’ve met some wonderful people along the way. My beautiful clients, many of whom have become great friends and my fellow business colleagues.

My heart is filled with gratitude.

Gratitude for all the people. Gratitude for all the lessons. Gratitude for Ross’ support and gratitude for the person I have had to become.

We talk about property development in terms of improving the property so it becomes more valuable, well it’s the same with personal development.

Being in business is the biggest personal development course you’ll ever undertake.

Investing in your own personal development is the quickest way for you to become more valuable.

How are you going to invest in yourself?

Click on the image above to join in the celebration with this 2 minute video.

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The other morning, I heard a huge bang, then a thud and then again and again.

As I looked out the window, I could see my neighbour’s house being demolished.

A fence around the perimeter proudly displayed the name of the contractor and the services they provided.

That same afternoon we had to call our plumber because the handle broke off our tap in the sink in the ensuite.

I also received a call from a prospective client asking if I could help them with their systems.

I started to contemplate these seemingly random events, as I do.

I shared my findings with Ross, “Business is Problem Solving”, I said.

“What are you talking about?” he asked.

“Well, a lot of the time I feel awkward when it comes to having a sales conversation, but when you look around, business is actually problem solving.”

He looked at me quizzically.

“The neighbours want to rebuild. They need someone to come and demolish the old house. We needed our tap fixed. We called the plumber. My clients need systems and processes, they call me. It’s just problem solving. It’s just helping people to solve their problems.”

We started listing off all the businesses we use on a regular basis.

The list was very long.

When you think about it, it’s amazing how many problems we have and how many businesses have been created to solve problems for people.

I just love thinking about and talking about business.

I’m so impressed and in awe of the many different business ideas that people come up with and often, it’s to help others who are having the same problem that they solved for themselves.

Take a look at your business. It doesn’t matter whether you own it or work in it or both.

Think about the consequences for your customers if your business did not exist.  I’m talking about your industry, not just your business and leaving it to your competitors.

Imagine if there were no real estate agencies. How would we buy and sell our homes.

What if there were no grocery stores?  How would we feed ourselves?

Where would we get our clothes from if there were no fashion designers, fabric manufacturers, clothing manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers or the web.

I just marvel at how things work.

I’m grateful for all the businesses that help Ross and I solve our problems.  Thank you!

Your job this week is to come up with your own list.

Think about all the products and services you use to help you solve your problems.

At the end of the day, that’s what business is for.  Business is Problem Solving.

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This week a past client messaged, “Got time to pick your brain over coffee?” I felt the familiar tug — I love helping. But I also know unpriced advice often lacks context, commitment, and outcomes. So I tried a new reply and offered for him to book in a professional consultation.

I didn’t hear back.

I love this quote, from an unknown source, “Boundaries aren’t walls; they’re doors with handles.”

Pricing is a promise — when we value our expertise, we show up at our best and invite clients to do the same.

Saying “yes” with structure is kinder than a vague “sure” that breeds frustration.

A similar thing happened when Ross and I had The Family Foto Man. When we offered additional prints for free, the clients didn’t value them as much as the ones they paid for.

Ben Harvey says that “Buying Begins Their Breakthrough”. What this means is that once a person commits to paying for the service, they show up differently. They take it more seriously, they do the work and they get better results.

And from another angle, I have a colleague whom I like to get advice from and I always preface my enquiry with, “this is a paid consultation” because if she doesn’t invoice me, I feel like I can’t ask her and I would prefer to ask her because:

1. she has a brain the size of a planet and has the best advice, and
2. I want to support her, and if I can’t pay her, I would feel like I’m taking advantage of her, which means, I’d have to take my business elsewhere.

As much as I love to help, I’ve had to learn to put boundaries in place, because consulting is what I do for a living. It’s how I earn my money. A coffee isn’t a consulting fee.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I love catching up with my friends and colleagues over a coffee, breakfast or lunch, but that’s different. It’s a different dynamic.

Your mission this week is to look at your own boundaries. Have you got any? If not, now might be the time to set some. Boundaries make it easier to say “Yes” when you want to.

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