Hands of Business

There is an ancient adage that though it was more relatable to your personal life in general, it can easily transcend over to business. Over the next few weeks, we will dive into this ancient wisdom and how you can apply it into your business today. Wisdom is wisdom because of its ability to transcend time and space. Let's dive in.

The saying is, "the fool folds their hand, and it leads to ruin; better to live one hand with tranquility, then two hands grasping after the wind."

We have three different types of entrepreneurs that each hand will represent.

Let's look at the imagery of entrepreneur number one. They have folded their hands and hence lead to ruin. Okay, I can hear you commenting already, "this picture does nothing for me; you have lost me already."

Makes sense but stick with me. Our current business environment doesn't relate to what was the reality of the original listeners. Their day consisted of physical work more than is done today. Today your current work situation consists of you sitting behind a desk and white collar in nature, not so back then.

Let' s connect the dots with this question, "how much work can you do in the yard or garden when you tuck your hands under your armpits?"

Not much, correct? How will the flower bed or vegetable garden look like when you stand in front of it, with your hands immobilized?

The same is said of this fool, that because of them folding their hands and not picking up the shovel and digging into the ground, that ruin awaits them.

But it is more than just someone physically folding their hands; there is a broader connotation that our entrepreneur purposefully folds their hands because of another factor and thus seeks to sit on their hands. What's that factor?

Fear.

What is that fear that holds you back? You are ready to work, and then fear shows up. It hinders your ability to perform the task in front of you because your mind thinks it is safer to freeze, then put yourself in danger.

I had one of these scenarios play itself out in my business.

I remember attending a conference where the speaker instructed the audience about the number of phone calls that they made daily, to make their business a success. His premise was, "if you make the same amount of calls, you can be a success as well."

I have never like cold calling. But what did I do? I went back to the office and assembled an extensive list of people that I was going to call. I cleaned my desk. I was ready to do this.

Then I folded hands.

Why?

Yep, fear. Fear that I was going to be a nuisance. Fear that I that I hadn't done enough or knew enough. Fear consumed me, so I sat there for three hours. Staring at the phone and then at the list, then looked at the phone and back to the list. Three hours of mental and emotional hell as I continued to beat myself up. I ruined a whole morning.

Regretfully this scenario has repeated itself more than I would like to admit. Even today, this fear monster will tap me on the shoulder and try to tie me up. It wasn't until I trusted in a bigger story and understood who I was and what I had to offer, did I start to gain ground.

What is it that can break you from the grip of fear and lead you out of a ruined morning and into a fulfilling afternoon?

It's a belief that your story is vital on whatever level it is. Fear wants to control us. It will consistently draw you into the comparison game to make its point of why you need to trust it. It says, "look at that the image and proclamation of those on your newsfeed. They are successful, not you."

Then we look at the gap of where they are and where we are that it overwhelms and stops us. I don't have the qualities that have, so why expend any energy. But it doesn't stop there, as fear propels us into a downward loop of doubt and unworthiness. The longer you stay there, just as I have done in the past, more and more mornings are wasted. Fear is not satisfied with the mornings only. It wants your afternoons and soon spills into evenings.

What may your hand folding be? Here are some of mine:

Newsfeed surfing, because one of those nuggets will be the magic bullet that propels me to greatness.

Rewriting goals, because if I haven't met the goal, it must because it wasn't clarified enough.

Listening to that motivational tape one more time with the hope that it sticks this time.

Searching and buying the latest tool to get more clients

Rewriting my elevator talk and making it better than before, so much that people from across the room run to hand me their contact information.

I would wilt to the fear and justify my actions with some made up bullshit, that I was busy working. I didn't sit on my hands physically, but I sure did emotionally.

Do you want to overcome fear and handcuffed results that it seeks to bind in your business?

There is a quote that helped me and I want to share it with you in hopes of it doing the same for you. The quote is, "Love casts out fear."

When I started to love my story; however, I perceived its brokenness and that my message was part of a bigger story did fear start to tremble. Then I turned my focus to loving the listener more than being consumed with me the speaker, and soon fear was the one wearing handcuffs.

It is a much better morning when you walk into your office with your coffee in hand and notice fear incarcerated in the hallway. That is a great day!

Next week you will learn about the second hand of business, but until then leave your "folding hands" tendencies in the comments. We are in this together, and when you and I name these, they hold less power in hindering you to become a better individual in your life and business. The network will thank you for it.

Doug Kliewer is a best selling author and founder of The Hero Maker Group. Most conscientious business leaders complicate their message to prospects. The Hero Maker Group coaches a 3-part blueprint that makes your story be seen and heard so your impact and revenues grow. His Hero Maker Showcase is designed to help authors and aspiring authors create presentations and marketing videos that get their story into the hands of the right reader. Go visit HeroMakerGroup.com to learn how you can get seen and heard by your audience.