Tools
The typical business consultant sells business tools. Like a hardware store sells hammers, business consultants sell business tools.
The challenge is that all too often, the consultant’s hammer is often heralded as the “cure all” for all business ailments.
Most people have the common sense to know that a hammer will not saw wood, drill holes, or router a decorative edge on a piece of wood. It is used for driving nails.
But when it comes to business, neither the business malady nor its cure are often readily clear. Consequently, things aren’t always what they appear.
This Happens All Too Often
Are your sales down? Use a hammer. Are your profits off? Use a hammer. Are you having trouble growing your company? Use a hammer.
Case in point. If you contact a website consultant, and your sales are down, you need a new website. Are your profits off? You need a new website. Having trouble growing your company? You need a new website. Get the point? Now, insert any other business function in the blank.
From social media, to CRM systems, to ERP systems, to inbound lead generation, to advertising, to marketing, …. just fill in the blank.
A Different Approach
At Blue Elevator™, we don’t sell hammers. In fact, we don’t sell any tools. Instead, we focus on helping executives and business owners at a higher level.
We help them clarify their end goal, or their “Why.” We help survey what tools they have and what tools they need. And, we help them learn How and When to employ the best tools available. In short, we help teach them how to be master craftsmen and master craftswomen. Experts in their trade.
We help with the Why, the What, the How – and When.
The Way It Usually Goes
Your novice homeowner will attempt to fix mostly anything with a hammer and a screwdriver. The expert craftsman or craftswoman will, over time, accumulate a variety of tools – each with a unique purpose. Each, with skilled hands and training, equipping the expert to create a beautiful work of art. A burgeoning business.
Over the years, we have observed too many company “bone yards.” Places where well-meaning and intended projects, systems, and software reside and collect dust. Vast expenditures made on items that either never got fully implemented, or that, if implemented, didn’t solve the underlying issue.
There is a better way.
Know When
Most consultants only mind themselves with the “What.”
At Blue Elevator™, we not only help with the Why, the What, and the How. But also, the When.
As a business owner, it can sometimes feel like you are out in the wilderness. You are surrounded by a bunch of hungry grizzly bears who all want to eat you (e.g., problems). And, you have only a couple of bullets (e.g., limited cash). You don’t have enough bullets for each bear. And, even if you are a great shot, you might still get eaten, but for God. Or, find yourself up a proverbial creek without a paddle.
Become Adept At Bootstrapping
It doesn’t matter whether you are a startup or a Fortune 500 company, Blue Elevator™ helps you with your “When.” We help you bootstrap.
Ultimately, as a business pro, you will eventually need to acquire a great set of tools and ‘know-how.’ To know when and where to use each one. And most importantly, why you are using them. Too many businesses fail because they are sold a bunch of tools that they don’t need – at the time.
You have to know when to shoot the right bear. Note: If you are an animal rights activist, please forgive the analogy.
At Blue Elevator™, we help you determine What you need and When. The best place for your cash is either in your pocket or invested making you money – not tied up in a bunch of tools collecting dust on a shelf.
Too Big To Fail? Not So
All too often, business owners and C-level executives are sold a grip of tools they may not need at the time. Not only does this burn cash, but the distraction of trying to implement a certain tool when it’s not something that’s holding you up is a distraction.
Even the large Fortune 500 companies fall victim to this conundrum.
They are struggling, they need a fix, etc. Fill in the blank. Someone somewhere in the organization knows someone who sells X. And X just happens to be the ‘vogue’ remedy for every business malady known to man.
And so, the organization invests $1 million into this “tool” and the “training” to go along with it. And, after all is said and done, they are in the exact same position as when they started. Only worse.
The reason? The real problem (e.g., the “Why”) wasn’t addressed. They immediately fell hook, line, and sinker for the “What.” Forget the “How.” All because of who was selling it.
Conclusion
Business advisory is a different animal than business consulting.
Blue Elevator™ is different than your traditional business consulting firm.
We invite you to Contact us if you are interested in a different approach.
AUG
About the Author:
Ken Moll is the Principal and Founder of Blue Elevator®. With professional experience spanning four decades, Ken has a breadth of foundational business knowledge rarely found – making him part of an elite class of professionals. Ken's passion is helping clients of Blue Elevator® get their “business to the next level™.”