Pay up, Speak up, Tell the truth

Everybody likes a bargain. It’s just human nature.

But when it comes to hiring professional people to help you, there are at least three key professionals where a bargain is going to be no bargain if price outweighs the value they provide. Those key big three professionals are your:

Doctor
Lawyer
Accountant

These people are your best defense against illness, against going to jail and going broke. And that is just the half of it! I think there is profound wisdom in finding the best professionals your budget will allow for each of these categories. You’d think that would be a given, but sometimes the temptation to bow to peer pressure because they might be a friend, you have a family relationship or the desire to get a bargain is swaying your decision. So you must be vigilant against these potential traps.

Know that it’s more than fine to hire a professional who’s a friend or a relative but only if the ground rules are crystal clear at the beginning. Let them know you’re hiring them based on their skills and that you expect to get at least the same attention a stranger would get from them if not better. You will want to make doubly sure on the front-end that this will be the case and if it’s not, you are free to move on with no harm and no foul.

Whatever way you go about filling these three critical positions in your life, know that this is not the time to skimp on the time and effort to seek and get referrals from trusted friends, professionals in other fields of endeavor and/or relatives whose opinion you value. In the end, your own due diligence is a must.

Paying for quality

Once you’ve made the commitment to pay up for high-quality professional advice, you need to make sure you get what you’re paying for and that responsibility rests firmly on you.

Where to start?

First of all, you will want to find people to fill these roles who are good listeners, but that can be tricky. It’s easy to get intimidated by fancy offices and multiple diplomas adorning each and every wall. Yes, they have earned your respect but not your silence. The best of the best in each of these fields know they can’t be at their best and serve you the best they can without asking good questions and really listening to your answers.

You need to know going into the search what you want out of each of these relationships. And you need to know what type of professional interaction you’re looking to have. One approach doesn’t fit all. You need to know yourself first and foremost.

Some people are looking to have authoritative figures in these positions who will take charge and hold their feet to the fire. They want to be told what to do and by when.

Choosing the right doctor

An example of this type of relationship would be a doctor who tells you what they have discovered, the recommended course of action and then has you booked for the follow-up treatment before they let you out of the office. They know what they know based on what they’ve observed and tested and now they know that we, as humans, are given to procrastination unless someone is assertive and proactive. They are accustomed to filling that role for their clients. For many this is a good approach because time is not always on your side and moving quickly and decisively can be crucial.

Then there are others of us who prefer a doctor who asks good questions, listens to what they’re saying and engages in a give-and-take dialogue. They’re looking for someone who does the testing and studies the results, so they can present options on a course of treatment. By listening to these choices and the associated pros and cons, it will leave you in the position to make a decision on which way to proceed and when.

Don’t be intimidated by professionals

Speaking up can be tricky for some of us. We’ve hired these people to be the experts and if they’re not, you need to go find someone else. But we also have to engage with them in a pleasant but proactive way or risk being bulldozed with industry jargon and terms we don’t understand.

You can’t make a good decision without knowing what they’re telling you. Don’t be intimidated! The best of these professionals know clear plain-English communication is key in this type of relationship. They should want to hear your questions and concerns and welcome the dialogue.

Tell the truth

Finally, you should always tell the truth. You’ve known that since you were a kid. But sometimes the truth is embarrassing or overexposing. The people you hire for these critical positions can’t possibly help you if what you’re telling them is untrue or incomplete. Holding back information is many times as bad as lying.

For you to be comfortable in what you’ll be sharing, you need to know the rules of the game first when it comes to what is and isn’t going to be kept confidential. Remember, to pay up, speak up and tell the truth and benefit from professionals who are there to be of service.

This Business Is Running My Life…

Well, it doesn’t have to be…but don’t take my word for it. Here’s what just one client had to say:

“Actually went on vacation for two weeks in the middle of my busy season! I would have never thought it was possible running an HVAC business to leave the business and celebrate my anniversary during our peak cooling season. But I did. And now I actually get to spend quality time on weekends with family and pick up my kids from daycare three days a week by 5:30 PM. When I was away, I was able to check in on the office remotely once in the morning and once in the evening.

This is all possible because of the work I did with Al. Life is good. He said the results I desired would come from Operating Power! and the other work we had done together. And they did. Now, I’m looking forward to reaping the rewards of the next Power Programs ahead. And as always I’m thankful for what Al does for contractors like me.”

Adrian Stephenson, President

Comfort Services

Raleigh, N.C.

Go to www.appleseedbusiness.com and get started by getting your free 30-minute call today!

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