As I have started my online business, I have made a lot of hidden assumptions that kept me stuck.
The most important of them was acting like a highly skilled employee. I was excellent at my job. But the problem was, nobody was giving me a job anymore…
For a long time, I kind of walked in the dark, trying to stumble into meaningful work. Looking back, I realize I was pretty lucky. But luck is not a strategy.
What I eventually learned was that my business had only one leg, and I was hopping around.
That one leg was fulfillment. I was good at fulfilling the promise I had made to my clients. I had the skills; I knew my craft!
Shortly after, I had to add another leg. And that was operations. Having to pay taxes made sure I found this leg very fast.
I did a balancing act on two legs for almost a decade, not understanding why I am not growing.
My skills got better and better. My relationships with bills and taxes improved. But I was still stuck.
Eventually, I found that I was missing a leg. And that leg is called “customer acquisition.”
I know it is obvious now that I can see it, but I was not consciously developing my ability to bring in customers for a long time.
Yes, I would be busy, but I would be busy doing the wrong things.
Sometimes we get stuck fixing the wrong problem: adding more skill when the issue was a lack of clients, not talent.
Are you also missing a leg :)?