What I’ve learned through the years is that contrary to what most consultants and counselors what you to believe, people really don’t change that much.
Sure, some come around sooner or later but the vast majority do not.
Winners keep winning.
Whiners keep whining.
It’s hard enough to control our own thinking and actions…. That is why it is best to focus on building a business model and making business decisions around people, markets, and patients just the way they are.
In practice, here’s the best you can and should do (in my opinion):
- Set a good example.
- Stay focused on what they want. If you can help them, if they are willing to pay for it, and if they don’t create too much grief, then accept them as a customer, client, or patient. (When you are really good, when you’re marketing is on point, when you can afford to, choose whom you do business with and refer out and/or repel the rest.)
- If you can’t afford to pick and choose whom you do business with, then to maintain your sanity, manage your business and their expectations well. Draw lines in the sand.
- Don’t take things personally. You don’t and shouldn’t have to need them to agree with you and/or have them know what you know.
- Always, always, always be in the learning mode. Read, think, spend time with those smarter than you.
Over time, if your business isn’t evolving and better serving you AND the wants of your market, then you aren’t thinking, deciding, and executing enough.
