Is It Worth Figuring Out?

Are you the leader of your ship?

 

I’d say once or twice a week I get a call or an email from a business owner that goes something along the lines of this…

 

“Al, I need help. I know I need to be on Facebook, but…. I don’t know where to start/I don’t know how to do it right/I don’t understand it/I’m trying and it’s not working….”

 

Now, just to be very clear, I never said you needed to be on Facebook. Just like you don’t need to be in the phone book, have a website, or even have a phone. It’s your life, and you can design it any way you like.

 

BUT, you need to understand that if you choose to reach a certain market, and that market is on Facebook, it’s in your best interest to be on Facebook and meet them where they are. And I believe with every ounce of my being that if you sell an ethical product or service that your market needs, that can add value to them and improve their lives in a positive way, you have a duty as an entrepreneur to get it out to as many people as you can.

 

So, you don’t NEED to be on Facebook. Just like you don’t NEED to brush your teeth or take regular showers.

 

But if you want to smell fresh, have great teeth, and reach those on Facebook—I’d recommend you CHOOSE to.

 

Of course, there are some industries that are far less popular on Facebook. Often, highly technical clients, scientific laboratories for example, and clients who are primarily business to business, tend to be less active on Facebook compared to B2C businesses. But that may just be where the opportunity lies 😉

 

Anyhow, back to the point of this article… the fear of getting started on social media, the fear of doing something wrong, or the fear caused by next to no engagement on social accounts…

 

I’ve had clients say things like, “But it’s not me, it’s not who I am, I don’t know to ‘Facebook’…”

 

And to that, the best response comes straight from Gary Vaynerchuk:

 

“You didn’t know how to drive before and you figured that shit out didn’t you?!”

 

Learning to become “natural” or “good” on any social media platform begins with having the right psychology about the medium, followed by practice.

 

When you have the right mindset, when you know the purpose, when you know the WHY, it’s much easier to get started—and over time, you’ll be a seasoned pro.

 

And believe me, many businesses who are using social media DON’T have the right mindset and truly have no clue what they are doing. They’re selling life insurance at a funeral—a.k.a. their social accounts make you cringe.

 

But this article isn’t about the mindset. It’s about that fine line…

 

See, I agree with Gary’s comment about figuring it out. But is it worth it? There’s a fine line between putting in the time to figure it out properly, and simply hiring someone who has already figured it out to lead it.

 

As a business owner, you’re always walking that line, and it can be very tough at times to know which direction to go.

 

Do you learn to do your own bookkeeping, or hire?

 

Do you learn to write your own copy, or hire?

 

Do you make your own flyers and business cards, or hire?

 

Do you make your own website, or hire?

 

Do you train your own sales staff, or hire?

 

The list goes on.

 

At the end of the day, it’s up to you, the owner, but here’s my two cents: learn enough to understand it, then hire someone to do it, and manage them.

 

You are the leader of your ship; you don’t have time to be scrubbing the deck floors, bailing excess water, taking out the trash, or posting about your ship. Lead that ship exactly where you want it to go—that’s YOUR one and only job.

 

I’ve been there… and I know it’s tempting to keep your hands touching everything, and in the beginning you have to, but as you grow your duties change, and you transition into being the leader of your company and your actions need to match that.

 

What are you doing today that you shouldn’t be doing anymore and can delegate? Take some time and think about it 🙂

 

To your success,

 

Al