Mapping Successful Habits

Steven Covey's 7 Habit's of Highly Successful People made the connection between business success and individual habits. This week Mary White of WTC Performance Group introduced me to the simple map on the left. It's an approach to looking at how those successful habits are formed.

We sometimes find business owners who are personally ready to sell their business; however, the business isn't ready to be put on the market. It's current value isn't as much as the owner knows it could be worth. Consultants, like Mary, work with these Active Investors to close this gap.

A common mistake made by consultants and coaches is to jump in with their expertise. On the map that's moving from Step 2 to Step 3. Often, the real need is to start at Step 1. The most immediate contribution a business value consultant brings is the ability to see an issue outside of the owner's awareness. This takes daring on both the part of the consultant and the part of the owner to allow it. That's what the #1 box in the map is all about, our Unconscious Incompetence.

Once aware, it's a process to move to the Conscious Incompetence awareness in Step 2 and then the Conscious Competence of skill in Step 3. The new skills are ultimately "ours" when we finally move into Unconscious Competence, Step 4, which is Habit. 

It's all very systematic once past that first step. Having the insight and courage to know when to take that step is the hardest part.