Have you ever heard the expression “too in the weeds” or “can’t see the forest because of the trees”?

In our own businesses, we are too connected, too invested, too – well, in the weeds – and we can’t always clearly see answers to challenges we’re having.

I find this happens all the time with my clients who utilize our virtual assistant services, as well as with my mentoring clients. Sometimes it just comes up in conversation as they voice a struggle they are facing, but not necessarily asking for advice. Other times it’s an outright plea “I’m having a problem with this and can’t figure out what to do.”

Being on the “outside” of their business, I come up with a suggestion fairly quick.  They usually love my idea and onward we go.

I have observed, too, that occasionally I’ll find myself talking with my coach several weeks later about a challenge I am facing.  On the surface it seems like a unique problem, but she will swiftly offer a solution… and guess what? It’s the same suggestion I gave my client.  My immediate thought usually is, “Duh. I just told my client that. Why didn’t I think of it for me?”

Here’s another example.  A few weeks ago I was talking with a friend who was putting up a website to display her photos.  The theme she was using had gallery, album, pictures.  She was struggling with how to categorize her photos.  She said, “I have landscapes, close-ups, barns, flowers.”  My suggestion was to create galleries for nature and buildings.  Then put albums for landscapes and flowers in nature, while barns and other types of structures could go in buildings.  It was a huge ah-ha for her.  She’d been struggling with that dilemma for quite a while.

The fact is we are just too close to our businesses to see the objective solution.  We make it harder on ourselves than it needs to be.  And sometimes the answer isn’t what we WANT to do so we subconsciously don’t think of that answer.

But we can fix all that.

For years I tried to go it alone, not seeking the advice of a mentor or coach.  While I had a successful business, it wasn’t nearly as successful as it could have been.  I struggled making some decisions, and made mistakes along the way.  I look back now and realize how beneficial it would have been to me if I had been open to input from others along the way.  And I’m not talking about friends and family!

I can tell you from experience, having someone who objectively helps you in your business decisions makes growing your business so much better.  I won’t say easier… If it were easy, everyone would be doing it!  But having a coach or mentor makes the bumps in the road – well, less bumpy.

Working with a mentor or coach also makes it so you’re not so alone in your business.  You have someone to bounce ideas off of and who gives you honest feedback. They want to see you get out of your comfort zone, grow intellectually, and succeed.

Do you work with a coach or mentor? Share your success stories with me below– I know you have them!