This morning, I got a text from an industry colleague and friend: “Hey, I’m a little stuck on something, can you talk through it with me and give me your thoughts?” We spoke for almost an hour, and a lot of what we talked about was the need to innovate – not just on the vendor side of our industry, but contractors, too. The cadence of jobs is different, contractors (and vendors alike) need to further diversify to stay competitive.
I’m here to tell you, don’t be afraid to take risks and try new ideas.
One of the big things I learned through my MBA journey over the last two years is how incredibly different we all are when it comes to risk tolerance and risk aversion. When my team of five (which included a financial analyst for DTE Energy, a buyer for Ford, a lean manufacturing instructor, and the director of quality for a very large international HVAC company), developed our entrepreneurship project plan (a service-based business called The Flower Fleet), it was clear some of us needed more details and to be further into the “weeds” than others. While I certainly understand some budgeting and projection work, as well as brand strategy planning, I also believe some of the best moves we can make in our businesses come from taking a leap and adjusting and perfecting as we go.
I often quote Sheryl Sandberg in saying sometimes “done is better than perfect.” Spending too much time before hitting the GO button could cost you important lead time against potential competitors, and getting too stuck in the minutiae can also hinder creative thinking and problem-solving along the way.
I’ll leave you with some wisdom from John Maxwell’s book, Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success:
“Achievers are given multiple reasons to believe they are failures. But in spite of that, they persevere. The average for entrepreneurs is 3.8 failures before they finally make it in business.
When achievers fail, they see it as a momentary event, not a lifelong epidemic.”
In Partnership,
Michelle Blevins
Michelle Blevins
Michelle Blevins is a content creator, marketing consultant, and entrepreneur whose career has been centered around education and fostering relationships within the industry she serves.
A journalist by trade, Michelle is passionate about running a publication rooted in integrity and valuable education. She views her role as owner and publisher of C&R Magazine as a bridge between industry experts and restoration and cleaning contractors.
Since joining the restoration industry, Michelle has made it her business to stay on top of the latest industry trends. She has become a go-to resource for anyone looking to learn more about what’s happening within today’s restoration industry. This has earned her a spot on many industry stages facilitating panels and helpful discussion with industry experts on the biggest topics facing restorers and cleaners in the current market.
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