The Assumptions That Could Hurt Your Business

Sometimes in business, you need to challenge your own assumptions. While you might be perfectly right in your thinking, there may be times that you are way off the mark. And occasionally, your assumptions might actually hurt your business.

Let's point to a few specifics.

Assuming that your way is the best way

Okay, so you might have been in business a long time, but does that make you an expert? You might have been to business school, but does that mean you know everything? Through training and experience, you will have picked up a lot of knowledge, and that's great. And there will be some areas in your business where you might qualify as an expert. But if somebody offers you advice, don't ignore it because you think you know what is best. There are people out there who know better than you, and that might even include your employees. Especially if they're fresh out of training themselves, their knowledge of emerging trends could be vital to the success of your business. So, listen to the people around you, and keep learning; never resting on your laurels assuming that you have all the answers. Your business might fall behind those of your rivals if you rely on your understanding alone. 

Assuming your business will one day fail

Business statistics rarely offer encouraging reading, as they show that some startup owners fail before they have even had a chance to find their feet. You might read the stats and assume that your destiny is intertwined with theirs. But this is a limited self-belief that needs to be erased. Sure, some business owners do experience failure, but there are those who do succeed. Look on the positive rather than the negative side. With an optimistic outlook, you will have the urge to be better, to work harder, and to leap over those hurdles that present themselves on your entrepreneurial journey. The alternative is fearing the worst and letting your negativity win over because of the apparent inevitability of failure. 

Assuming that tiredness is normal

Running a business is hard; you know that. You probably have a to-do list as long as your arm, and you might regularly work overtime trying to get through it all. Going to bed tired and waking up tired, you might assume that such is the life of a business owner. Well…this is nonsense. You will only hit the burnout stage if you continue down this path, and that will scupper the health of both you and your business. Instead, you need to find ways to manage your workload. You might delegate more to your staff, especially if they don't have as long a to-do list as you do. And you might outsource parts of your business to others, using Virtual HQ as your answering service for some of your business calls, for example. And there are hundreds of software tools available too, with apps and downloadable programmes that can make light work of some of your most pressing tasks. Check out these examples. Think on these things and act upon them, as you will then get to go home before it gets dark, and you won't burn yourself out through needless exhaustion.

You know what they say about the word ‘assume;' it makes an ass out of you and me! So, don't be an ass, and correct your false assumptions for the betterment of your business.