If its not Broke…Fix it Anyway

I’m currently taking an online business turnaround course.  GASP!  “But Tina”, you say, “you already have a successful virtual assistant business.  And you teach others how to build their own successful businesses.  Does that mean you don’t know what you’re talking about?”

Before you get your panties in a bunch breath deep and listen to what I’m going to say next. 

You shouldn’t stop learning and starting new things simply because you’ve gained a certain level of success at something.

No matter what I know already, I realize that there are always other people out there that know something I don’t.  Perhaps they do what I do in a different, more effective way.  Or maybe they do something totally outside of the box I’m currently in.

Too often business owners use the ‘if it’s not broke, don’t fix it’ excuse.  How many local businesses dragged their heels on having a website because they were sure their customers weren’t the ‘web’ type?  Or keep sinking money into yellow pages ads but have no clue that their business doesn’t show up until around page 6 in the search engines?  The number is a lot bigger than you might think.

Even now, with mainstream media adopting social media and mobile computing there are tons of businesses that think it doesn’t affect them. They are wrong.  In a few months, or years if they’re lucky, they will find out just how wrong. Then they will either scramble to catch up or find themselves pushed out of business by those companies that recognized the need to learn new things and implement them for their businesses.

And that’s why I’m taking this class. And why I took the one before this one.  And why I’ll take the next one.  I’m aware that the level of success that I have today doesn’t guarantee that same success tomorrow.  My best bet is to learn from others and make changes that keep my business growing.

It’s one of the biggest secrets to success there is.

Oh…and did I mention that the money you spend on learning nets you an absolutely incredible return on investment?  But that’s another post.