Burden of proof 

I’ve been running a small business for far too long now. I’ve seen a LOT

I’ve been through the ‘Can I do this stage?” and can safely say - I have seen your situation and 9 times out of ten I have seen what journey you need to take and would love to take you on that journey. You just need to trust me.

But what if you have to prove you know what you know ?

My 2IC has been with me for FAR too long - she is my confidante, my rock and my general go to -she has managed to replicate my gut feel and tempers my tempestuous nature. She hauls me in when I need restraining - she is my wind of caution yet encourages me when I need to feel the freedom and ride with the ‘top down’ . So she’s pretty amazing right ?

Yet - TECHNICALLY she doesn't have that magical piece of paper that proves she knows what she does yet in her mind she does. In my eyes she’s amazing!. So the past 2 years she has studied to get the ‘piece of paper’. Today she got it !!! I am so proud of her - sheer determination and GUTS.

How many of us as business owners work in an area of expertise where we do not hold that magical piece of paper ?

So let’s focus on what is important :

1. Legally to trade do you need this qualification? In her case - the answer is NO - as an employee she does not - yet the industry encourages her to have it.
2. Does it authenticate what you do ? Does it give you credence in the industry ? I joined the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers because I felt I needed to ‘prove’ I had an industry body behind me - if it gives you comfort and standing - then why not?
3. Does it COMPLETE you ? Often certifications just prove and validate what we know what we know - and although this can be seen as ‘ticking’ boxes - this validates our knowledge
4. Does it VALIDATE your experience ? Or do you think it will ? These are the deep questions to ask your inner self - ask others - self perception can be self limiting!

Let’s face it - leaving school it is easy to qualify in a ‘trade’ but does that mean that you know the industry, the clients, the trends…..does it equal your passion?

In business I am all about the passion - it is why I am up at 5am each day - off to the gym and then into the office - the weeks I don’t feel the passion are the weeks I struggle. I once thought I needed the piece of paper but now I realise sometimes you don’t need to follow the usual path to your dreams. My 'piece of paper' whilst relevant would have strictly sent me down a different path had I have followed the usual avenue !

If someone had sat me down at 20 and told me the path I would leave today I would never have believed them - hey if someone told me that in the last 6 months I would be doing what I am doing now - I would not have believed them

So apart from my reflections and posturing - what can you as a business owner take away from this ?

1. Sometimes you just need to ask - opportunities are everywhere just don’t say NO
2. Never assume you need the piece of paper
3. Live your dreams - no one else will
4. Never under estimate your gut - If you can validate you don’t need the certificate
5. Surround yourself with the right people - it doesn't matter if they don’t have the piece of paper - often their experience ‘talks”

Be sure of yourself - surround yourself with the best experts - and most of all - LOVE what you do !