Sometimes, the only thing stopping you from having an enjoyable and successful business is YOU.

We all thrive in different situations, and figuring out what that means for you is not always easy. When you’re forcing yourself to do the things you shouldn’t be doing… things that are not within the domain of your unique ability… you’ll have a hard time moving forward and thriving. No evil scheme hatching can help you with that.

That’s why I tell people to take the Kolbe test as soon as possible to help them clear that up. Everything made sense when I discovered I’m a 4-4-10-1, a Quick Start.

A high number in the third column means you’re attracted to the new. You thrive when you’re thinking up new ideas and figuring stuff out. (Evil scheme hatchery, anyone?) and that’s EXACTLY what I love doing the most.

On the other hand… when you’re forcing yourself to execute those ideas following checklists…   building things with your hands… you end up frustrated and burned out. I’ve learned to totally embrace that about myself.

Rather than beating myself up and trying to be a better implementer, I realized I have no business in doing the hands-on stuff. I’m much better at describing what I want… visualizing it… and then surrounding myself with people who make those things happen. People with higher scores in the Follow Through and Implementor columns.

When you don’t know that you’re a Quick Start… and go into a market where the code has already been cracked, you’re setting yourself up for trouble.

Take real estate, for example.

I’ve already cracked everything there is to break for real estate. Everything about getting listings, multiplying listings… all those things have already been figured out. The only thing that’s required from you to have a thriving real estate business is a disciplined execution of my plan.

Great, right?

Well, if you’re a Quick Start, that’s terrible news! Sometimes, just executing the plan will be a huge source of frustration… unless you surround yourself with people who thrive by following checklists and you delegate that work to them. What made the most significant difference for me was having somebody I could describe my ideas to. Somebody I can talk things through and who helps me set out the plan.

  • They take notes,
  • make checklists and
  • then delegate all the stuff that needs to be done to the team.

‘Knowing your instincts and natural ways of taking action is an advantage you can’t afford to go without. Because even the greatest evil scheme hatching won’t turn you into something you’re not. But I would still be beating myself up and trying to become a better Implementor… if I didn’t come across Kolbe and have my eyes opened.

I talk more about this on the More Cheese Less Whiskers podcast with Jeffery Higgins

So…

Have you done your Kolbe yet?

What’s your score?