Andy Black
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I have conversations like this every week. They could be neighbours, parents of kids I'm coaching, and loads of DMs in the forum, on LinkedIn, or via email.My colleague kept asking me to meet and give him some advice on starting his first business. I usually avoid that, because I remember being in the same place and giving me advice was a total waste of time. I was too stupid to listen and had to make my own dumb mistakes to understand. But in the end, I agreed.
We went through the different paths he was considering, and for each one he had the same kinds of excuses - “it’s already being automated,” “what if someone copies me,” “I don’t have enough knowledge in this domain,” “something similar already exists,” and so on.
At first, I tried to push back and offer a different perspective, but eventually I couldn't anymore.
So I wrapped it up and said - “Look, just pick any of these ideas, it doesn’t matter. It’s going to fail anyway, but whatever you learn will set you up for the next thing. And honestly, what else are you going to do? Hide in your aparment and cry?”
He got offended.
Later I got a message from him saying he’d hoped I would be more helpful. I guess I don’t have a colleague anymore lol.
Never again.
It's not down to the business they're thinking of pursuing, it's down to the way they think about problems.
Problems aren't hurdles in our way. They're the stepping stones revealing our path.
Try something like this:
"You're doing great thinking of all the reasons this might not work, and all the problems that could stand in the way. True entrepreneurs and business owners see all the problems as stepping stones and barriers to entry."
When you say "Yes, but <problem in your way>" then your brain gives up.
When you "Yes, and <problem in your way>" then your brain wakes up because you've given it a challenge.
Yes, but someone else has done it.
Yes, and someone else has done it.
See the difference?"
PS: You could also apply that thinking to what just happened.
I was trying to advise a newbie on how to get started in business, but he kept bringing up reasons each couldn't work.
I was trying to advise a newbie on how to get started in business, and he kept bringing up reasons each couldn't work.
One feels like the end of a story, while the other feels like the start of a story.
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