I have a funny way of looking at business leadership skills.

Because when I'm creating something, a post, a book, a program, course, seminar – whatever…

I'm secretly designing it so the critics will criticize.

Isn't that odd?

It's not my MAIN focus, but when I create anything – there's ALWAYS something in it that I know will piss someone off, or they'll totally disagree with.

And THAT'S the point.

It's a part of business leadership

In my opinion, it sets you apart from the status-quo when you stand up and deliver something you totally believe in.

When you create something from a passion to help others.

Because I know there will be my fans-followers-my tribe, who will LOVE what I have to say.

In many cases, I'm saying what THEY'RE afraid to say, or sayin' something they've never thought about and needed to hear.

They love what I have to offer them because it supports their own passions, beliefs, and desires.

No, I'm not on a pedestal…

I'm IN the crowd. I'm listening-engaging-asking-challenging and learning.

But more importantly, I'm moving forward.

I don’t care about pleasing everyone – so that will eventually attract the critics.

If that’s how you’re building your business, like Seth Godin says in Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us; “A remarkable product or service is like a purple cow. Brown cows are boring; purple ones are worth mentioning. Those ideas spread; those organizations grow…boring ideas don’t spread. Boring organization don’t grow”, well, you're probably not going anywhere fast.

So which are you?

The brown cow that everyone sees and no one is talking about?

Or the purple cow that some people see as magnificent, yet others see as disturbing because it doesn’t “fit in?”

I’m sure you know which “cow” I'm shootin' for. Because I’m using my business leadership to help shape the lives of others…first – not “make money” first.

So when you stand out to help shape the lives of others, you’ll ultimately find some (or they’ll find you), who do not want to be in your “tribe”.

Cool right?

Either way, it's a win-win-win, because everyone's doing what they love to do 🙂

So how are you creating business leadership skills in your business?

Are you willing to be criticized?

If so, bravo – you've moved from mediocre, boring, follow-the-herd to leader!

Let's get a conversation going below – where do YOU stand?

I learned something REALLY important about gambling that totally applies to business leverage…

I’m not a gambler…

But I’m a true entrepreneur…

Which means I’m ALWAYS looking at other “industries” to see how they’re “secrets” can get me more business leverage.

The lesson I learned was: “Play games you can win.”

Sounds obvious, but it goes deeper than that.

Professional gamblers play PEOPLE they know they can beat – the “mark”.

I don’t like being a “mark”.

And I would guess you don’t either.

I want to be on the other side.

So what does this have to do with our business leverage?

EVERYTHING.

We need to play the games in our business we can win.

And for the most part – I’ve witnessed enough entrepreneurs playing “games” they WILL NEVER win.

• Trying to build multiple pieces of their business at once.
• Trying to “sell” to “everyone” rather than a particular niche
• Avoiding the hiring of professionals because they think it’s more expensive than doing it ALL themselves.

And that’s just off the top of my head.

They’re the “mark”.

They’re losing business leverage every day.

The point is – we need to work less and make more.

“Sounds great Joey, but HOW do I do that?”

This is the question I get all the time.

And for the most part, the answer is focus.

The answer is to focus on the 20% that delivers the 80%.

And that’s where people freak out.

Because focusing on the 20% means “letting go” of 80%…or at least MINIMIZING the involvement you have with it.

I’ll give you an example:

In every business, bookkeeping is a must – right?

Some like it,some hate it and still, some are “ok” with it. Which really means they’ll “put up with it” when they have to.

That’s where I sat.

When the time came, I just HAD to deal with it.

Rather than spending the money on a bookkeeper, I’ll “do it myself.”

That ended up being weeks of my life spent doing something I totally hated, but needed to do because I thought the expense of a bookkeeper would cost me more.

I’m not the only one with this theory.

And it’s not the only area in our businesses the theory fits…

However, when I focus on the 20% of stuff I’m REALLY good at, my business leverage takes off.

I’m able to PAY for those professionals so I can keep doing the 20% I’m good at.

I CAN HEAR THE NEXT OBJECTION ALREADY

“yea, but Joey, I need to MAKE MONEY FIRST before I can hire those people…”

True – but not true.

I agree that when you’re first starting out, money can be tight.

But, if you’re like me, you could spend decades “trying to make money”. I would argue that you’re really just “comfortable” with YOU doing it all.

That’s a business leverage game you can’t win.

When you believe “no-one can do it like me”, you’re absolutely right.

And for the 20% you do well – you don’t WANT anyone doing it.

However, for 80% you do “ok”, you’re throwing away the time and effort you could be putting into your 20% that MAKES YOU THAT MONEY.

Play the business leverage games you can WIN!

Let's start a conversation below…what do YOU think?