You Don’t Need Skills to do Business
I’m lucky. I can look at a piece of writing and know – without thinking – what to do to make it better. I know which words to change to improve it, and which words should stay because they’re effective. I know how to move paragraphs around to add punch and impact. I know how to draw people in.
It comes to me as easily as breathing does.
But to most people, writing with this level of innate ability isn’t something they have. It just isn’t in them. They can’t design, either; that mind’s eye for color and vision just isn’t there. They can’t program. The skills are lacking.
So they get a job.
Maybe they do finance or administration. Maybe they answer phones in customer service departments. They work in factories, or daycare centers, or fast food chain restaurants. They might love to own their own business, but they feel they don’t have the skills. Instead, they take a job working for someone else.
A job they hate. A job they wished they could change. A job that squashes dreams and squeezes work out of the person like a fist squeezing a lemon. A job that goes nowhere and that isn’t fulfilling.
Maybe you have one of those jobs right now.
You Don’t Need Skills
We’re all so wrapped up in what we can’t do these days. Obstacles block our vision. They’re huge rocks that sit squarely on our path of what we’d like to do, and we stand like wee Davids facing Goliaths. We can’t get over the obstacles, we can’t get under them, and we can’t get around them.
Or can we?
We’re so twisted up about what we can’t do that we forget what we can do. We take the skills that we have for granted. We hyper-focus on the required elements that aren’t within our grasp, and we ignore the potential we do have.
You don’t need skills to build a business. Well, not the kind of skills you think you need, that is.
Who Says?
Who says that to start a business you need to actively be the one doing all the work, from admin to action tasks? Who says that if you want to own a copywriting business, you need to be writing the copy? Who says that if you want to own a marketing site, you need to be a marketer?
Why couldn’t you just be the business owner?
In the Unlimited Freelancer, I wrote about ways to create better, stronger, bigger businesses by partnering with people who have the skills you lack. But in the back of my mind, I knew this applied to more than just freelancers.
People don’t have to freelance at all to own a business they love. We can all have what we want, even if we don’t have the skills. All we have to do is find the right people to work with us.
That’s all it takes, really – a strong team and great services. It doesn’t matter who does what, as long as the end result is fantastic. So there’s no reason to set aside your dreams thinking you don’t have the skills. Just find the people who do.
And build the business you’ve always wanted.
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James,
Quite true. Even the smallest restaurants have at least a few employees. You can’t cook, clean, and serve, no matter how talented or how hard a worker. Ditto stores, schools… yet folks who want to work from home seem to think they have to go it alone.
Chief Team Builder is a pretty sweet job title, and it takes a lot of that SuperMan burden off a freelancer’s shoulders. Plus then, you didn’t just move your j-o-b to your house. You own a business.
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly´s last blog post…Inspiration Points: Reality Is Not on a TV Show
Us humans are incredibly social animals. We love talking, gossiping and impressing other people. Our social nature is the reason we can build civilizations instead of being lone wolfs. It’s also why you should always get help building a business instead of trying to do it all yourself.
It makes perfect sense then that building your team by surrounding yourself with the right people is the best advice you can possibly give in this post. You choose your friends and don’t hang out with people that are damaging – why when freelancing or in business should it be any different?
Great post James.
Patrick
Pretty excellent reminder. I know there are folks out there in the very situation you describe – hell, I’ve been there.
Sometimes you just need to step back for a moment and try and view things from a different perspective. It’s a lot easier to see the forest once you get all of those freakin’ trees out of the way.
Cheers
George
Tumblemoose´s last blog post…Titillating titling tidbits
I’m in that situation right now and I must say your book has been a great help so far.
I’ve also had my rear end kicked by a friend in work when she recognised my skills as a writer whilst I remained oblivious to it. Like you James it’s like an innate gift, but do you too have trouble explaining the ‘whys’ and ‘what fors’ of English grammar?
Marc´s last blog post…Blog Branding and Netiquette
I have always felt like that I have had to do everything myself as a freelance writer, which is just insane. Yet, I still do it all myself. I truly enjoy working alone. Maybe that is one of my downfalls; I don’t know. I love to work alone, even if it means doing it all by myself.
Your opening comment sparked a question . . . do you think you were born with the “knack” for words and writing, or do you think its something you developed along the way, but so early that you can’t remember the process? I’ve been musing on the whole idea of teaching people to write – maybe due to the Master’s degree in progress – and if that is really possible. Everyone can improve, but are some of us born with it and others not? Any thoughts?
I believe some people have in their lives are nurtured to the current level of their identity.
Some people’s up-bringing and life experiences allow them to take on the role of a leaders from the playground to the boardroom.
Some people are conditioned to be followers and are very uncomfortable making decisions for themselves.
And some people shed the identity they made up for themselves at 7 years old so they can live life in a way that fulfills their core needs.
In my opinion we all have talents. This is what makes us superior to some people and inferior to others. Which in turn makes us all equal.
When we, through our childhood conditioning or through our own intervention, step into the identity that lets us exploit our talents for our own greater good and the greater good of others we feel fulfilled.
But if we never wrestle control of our own emotions, beliefs and values, programming that may be holding us back, we die with our music still in us.
I was conditioned to be “normal”, “Ordinary”, “Average.”
Mentors helped me question the way I was living my life which led me to pursue a profession where I could shine.
We rise to the expectations of our peer group. If yours doesn’t encourage you to be all you can be, find a new one. You’ll be glad you did.
Note Taking Nerd #2
Note Taking Nerd #2´s last blog post…If I Could Hear The Questions You Ask Yourself Would I Think I Was In The Presence of a Leader Or a Victim?
I never felt or saw one iota of success until I started surrounding myself with people I trusted and aspired to be like. Having a team can mean the world when it comes to starting a business and turning it into a success. Even if you’re not thinking of starting a business, it’s still great advice to have some sort of team. It’s great to network, bounce ideas around, keep each other accountable and motivated, etc.
Cassie´s last blog post…Blogging Challenge – Publishing those pesky draft posts
@ Cassie – Good point. Even if you aren’t using a team for production, you still need a support team across many areas to keep you sane!
@ Note – I hear you. However, peer groups are people that we gravitate towards because of our inner perspectives, beliefs and values. Changing your peer group doesn’t change your mindset if you aren’t ready to change. Only by changing yourself do you start to walk on a different path than those you typically ‘hung’ with – and thus find yourself attracted to and attracting people who resonate with your inner personality.
Buuuutt… all that is way off topic on the point of the post, which was, “You can have a business with no skills.”
@ Stacey – I believe born with it. For example, I’ll never be an Olympic runner, as I wasn’t born with that innate speed, need to race, etc. But I was born with talent in other areas. That runner might never be a writer, too. Wasn’t born with what it takes.
Do I believe we can learn writing? Absolutely. There are some fantastic writers out there, better than me (if you can imagine that!). But I do believe that the inner spark we’re born with always trumps out and shines through.
@ Marc – I don’t have trouble explaining that sort of stuff (when I’m of a mind to, which isn’t often lol). What I do have trouble explaining is how to write website content. It’s truly something special and it’s hard to teach what I can just SEE.
“See here? Look…”
“No… where?”
“Here. Can’t you see this?”
“Um… sorta… This?”
“No no. This! Here! See?”
“Mmm… no…. You mean-”
“Oh, hell, let me do it. Give me that!”
@ Tumble – Trees are only good for hiding behind. I like to enjoy the full kingdom.
@ Very – Exactly. Exactly, exactly. I also find that many freelancers take on the lone wolf mindset and become absolutely miserable. Overworked, not enjoying it, isolated, feeling lonely… Yuck.
@ Kelly – While writing this post, I wanted to abolish the word freelancer, because somewhere along the way, it became associated with “completely alone and working hard.” No, no, no, says I.
Sweet post. I agree that entrepreneurs don’t require ‘real world’ skills. All they need is a little spark, some fuel and a passion for their contributions in the world.
Entrepreneurs often confront the brutal reality that they can’t ‘do it all,’ yet they aren’t able to hire additional staff. Infusionsoft stands up for entrepreneurs and true small business owners who need to automate various parts of their business like sales and marketing so they can focus on delivering killer services and products to their customers.
Don’t let the fire go out, keep it goin’ and with our software we help entrepreneurs grow quickly and profitably.
~Joe
Joseph Manna, Infusionsoft´s last blog post…Spam Got You Down? (We Don’t Like Spam!)
Thank You James.
I see where I came up short. I didn’t close my post correctly.
Let me retort and bring this home proper. Here we go…
We rise to the expectations of our peer group. If yours doesn’t encourage you to be all you can be, find a new one. Especially if it’s your dream to run your own business.
If you’re constantly surrounded by people who tell you why you’re dream is impossible (while never having run a business before) because you don’t have all the skills or resources you need, it’ time to add friendly people to your social circle who are actually doing it and can show how it is possible.
Guys like James and Harry.
Thanks for the lesson.
Note Taking Nerd #2
Note Taking Nerd #2´s last blog post…If I Could Hear The Questions You Ask Yourself Would I Think I Was In The Presence of a Leader Or a Victim?
James,
Well, the working hard part is good…
Until later,
Kelly
P.S. Who says there are better writers than you? Bah.
Kelly´s last blog post…Tip of the Week: Pump Down the Volume…
I know I’m not really disagreeing with you when I note that it’s fine to farm things out but you had better have at least a basic understanding of what you are passing off to someone else. Hate doing accounting and are sloppy with numbders? Fine, have someone else do your books. But make sure you can read your balance sheet and cross reference every other piece of data they give you. Taxes too complicated? Farm it out – but know how tax laws affect your business specifically. You might be too nervous and edgy to be a good salesperson – but be smart enough to recognize the skills such a person needs before you hire or partner with them
There’s a corollary that is implied in your post but I’ll spell it out: skills aren’t enough. I’ve seen many a highly talented person fail abjectly at business because they lacked basic business skills. None of it is really hard but you’ll fall flat on your face without it. I’ve seen other people who completely lacked people skills fail for the same reason.
You CAN farm out all your business/people skills needs, but you have a lot more chance if you have them yourself or at least understand them. Unless you have a big pile of money to hire personnel experts, of course..
I’ve just discovered the benefits of having a team.
In the past I’ve always tried to do everythging myself. I was over worked and trying to achieve my goals became very difficult.
I’m in the process of building my team and I can already see the light to freedom.
I’ve been considering finding some sort of partner for my blogging-related business for a while now. I’ve noticed that quite often the businesses that end up doing really well are the ones that aren’t solopreneurs, but partnerships.
I have an idea of what sort of person I want to partner with and I’m beginning to consider how things would get divded up. I just need to clarify it.
That being said: Partnering Profits is on my list of ebooks to read and thanks for the reminder to get to reading it…
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndrome´s last blog post…Getting through it on your own: The Deep Friar interview
@ Alex – You’re very welcome for the nudge. I hesitate, actually, to use the word partnership, though – it implies that people need to take on a full partner and split everything down the middle. That’s actually not really accurate. But I haven’t found a better word yet
@ Mick – Exactly. A person can run down into the ground trying to do it all. Pride, stubbornness, control issues… ditch ‘em. Get help.
@ Tony – I do agree with you. It’s good to have some understanding and knowledge. However, the lack of that should never hold anyone back from starting out.
Also, you’re right. People can farm out social skill needs just as they can farm out any other type of work. Take Harry and I as an example on that one. We each do what the other can’t or doesn’t like to do and benefit together.
“We each do what the other can’t or doesn’t like to do and benefit together.”
You are lucky, both for finding each other and for having the temperaments to let it work.
I wish I could do that. I’ve tried it several times, but I’m just too much a lone wolf (you know, Harry did that image for me)- I do not work well with anyone else. When it comes to decisions that affect my life, I just don’t trust anyone else.
Well, except my wife. That’s a 42 year partnership that has worked. I do trust her..
Tony Lawrence´s last blog post…Bailouts, Taxes, Stimuli
@ Tony – True. It’s not easy to work with other people at all. It asks that we have the ability to let people do what they do best and recognize that delegation isn’t a loss of control. (I write about this in the Ultimate Freelancer, actually.) We’ve had plenty of times where we’d like to kill each other and working together does demand patience.
But as you said, I wouldn’t trust anyone with my life. Work is not my life
“But as you said, I wouldn’t trust anyone with my life. Work is not my life”
Down here in the lovely capitalistic You Ess of Ayyy , if you fail to support yourself, you are expected to crawl off into the gutter and die quietly. Winter weather can help in my part of the country – it’s slower down South but they still expect you do do no more than whimper as you pass. I prefer my present lifestyle.
My life depends on my work
Tony Lawrence´s last blog post…Bailouts, Taxes, Stimuli
@ Tony –
Your life (and lifestyle) depends on your ability to be flexible, adapt, change and survive. Not your work. How many jobs have you held up to this point in time? Mmhm.
You’ll make it just fine. Even in the You Ess of Eh.
“Your life (and lifestyle) depends on your ability to be flexible, adapt, change and survive. Not your work. How many jobs have you held up to this point in time? Mmhm.”
Well, yes. I’ve never really thought that I do X, Y or Z. I do whatever it takes and always have. I’m sure you have the same outlook. You are a writer if that’s what brings you money today but if it doesn’t tomorrow you’ll be something else.
And yes, I’ll make it – barring catastrophic illness, I’ll land on my feet every time. But lots of people won’t. We’re going to see more suicides and murders down here as this mess gets worse (and it WILL get worse). I don’t mean to be grim, but unfortunately that is reality.
As you suggested above, this is a great time to take stock of your abilities and work toward building that business.
Tony Lawrence´s last blog post…Bailouts, Taxes, Stimuli
Michael Gerber put it well. If you do all the work, you don’t own a business, you own a JOB.
Terry Heath´s last blog post…Crows and Social Proof
“Michael Gerber put it well. If you do all the work, you don’t own a business, you own a JOB.”
Well, I don’t think much of Mr. Gerber and I don’t “own a job”. I own a lifestyle and it’s a good one. Far better than most of the people I know with employees and buildings and all that.
But there is a middle ground in the team/partnering approaches James talks about here. If I could do that, I would.
Tony Lawrence´s last blog post…Bailouts, Taxes, Stimuli
Yes, But How do go about attracting the right kind of people? I run a recording studio which is a very people orientated business – where people are the number one resource.