Squeegee (and Bigdawg!) - Thank you so much for your kind words - and for taking the time to share them!
SJM...
Your perception of who I am and what I do is an interesting caricaturization. Still, I would rather stand accused of peddling "common sense" than I would "magic".
I haven't read any Tony Robbins. Funny story though: Occasionally, when I first started consulting, clients would ask me
"Have you read the E-myth?" and I had to keep confessing that I hadn't. Then, one client - someone a little more cynical, I guess - practically accused me of lifting pages right out of Gerber's playbook. I decided I had better read it and did... and was (at first) a little shocked at how similar our approaches were at the time. But, as I thought about the similarities, I began to wonder why the approaches should be any different. My conclusion was that it is "common sense".
Yesterday I had conversations with 3 prospects from this community. After discussing their businesses, I explained what I do, and how I do it. I think I told each of them that what I do isn't rocket surgery, and that they can learn to do it themselves. I guess if I was a better salesman, I probably would have added "But will you?" and "How long will it take you?"... and "Why haven't you done it already?".
The truth is that everything each of us knows as "common sense" came to us as new knowledge at some point... and certainly not in the same order, at the same time in our lives as the next guy (or gal). Each of us has strengths and weaknesses. Anyone who runs a business who can't count "common sense" marketing and business development among their strengths would be foolhardy to ignore the fact for too long. If they're not ready to hire someone with those strengths (employee or consultant) then maybe - just maybe - there really is some value in the "common sense" I share around here. I certainly hope so... and am grateful that at least a few folks agree.
