The Essential Business Advice You Should Ignore
Written on
Chapter 1: The Challenges of Entrepreneurship
Navigating the world of entrepreneurship is far from straightforward. Many of us were conditioned to cater to the demands of the capitalist system, making it tough to forge our own paths. We are often sold the grand idea of "chasing our dreams," yet we remain socialized to comply with what employers expect.
Consider rigid working hours, unpaid overtime, and the pressure to exceed expectations rather than finding smarter ways to operate. It's no surprise that many individuals with an entrepreneurial spirit have embraced the hustle culture, no matter how challenging it may be. I count myself among them; after experiencing disappointment from yet another 9-to-5 role, I vowed never to place all my hopes on one job again.
However, I encountered various obstacles, such as acquiring all necessary tools and creating a productive routine for myself. I needed to successfully locate and secure clients while also planning my business's growth.
When I sought help for my entrepreneurial journey, I stumbled upon the troubling realm of business coaching. It is filled with faux gurus who exploit the frustrations of business owners to benefit financially, often lacking genuine expertise.
I've encountered far too many of these dubious coaches, and interestingly, they frequently offer the same advice disguised as a unique solution.
Section 1.1: The Automation Myth
The first piece of advice that every business coach seems to share is to automate your operations. While at times this reminder can be beneficial, it is often presented as a groundbreaking solution that no one else has thought of.
This is misleading. Major project management applications readily provide automation tips on their websites and blogs. Yes, automation can be useful, but it won't magically resolve your business challenges.
Each business is distinctive, and the more specialized a business is, the harder it becomes to automate its processes. For instance, I use HoneyBook to send follow-up emails automatically to individuals who fill out my inquiry form. While that is a step in the right direction, building a client relationship requires more than just automation. I still need to understand their goals and communicate effectively to secure the deal. Automation has its limits.
However, many business coaches promote automation as the ultimate remedy for time-consuming tasks, assuming that entrepreneurs are spending 5 to 10 hours weekly engaging with potential clients. (I can confidently say that a lot of these coaches are involved in MLMs, where such time commitments are common, and they never learn proper prospecting methods beyond a simple copy-and-paste approach.)
Thus, they believe all you need to do is establish your "signature offer" and automate the marketing and sales processes. Voilà, income without extra hours! This isn't realistic for those of us who provide customized services. Choosing a "signature offer" simply isn't an option.
Section 1.2: The Outsourcing Trap
Another common suggestion from business coaches is to outsource tasks like social media management, calendar organization, and SEO, as these can consume valuable time. Their mantra is, "If someone else can do it, delegate it." They often recommend hiring virtual assistants from developing countries at rates as low as $7 per hour to free up your schedule.
This approach raises ethical and practical concerns. Is it right to take advantage of labor from developing nations merely to save time? Is it even worthwhile to delegate tasks, especially when cultural and language barriers might lead to misunderstandings?
In my own experience, my administrative tasks don't consume nearly as much time as these coaches claim. I doubt that saving myself 30 to 60 minutes a day justifies the exploitation of labor from abroad—nor does it empower me to genuinely grow my business.
This viewpoint also reflects a privileged perspective. A look into the backgrounds of many business gurus reveals that many come from affluent circumstances. They are accustomed to offloading undesirable tasks onto others, confusing convenience with entrepreneurship.
As someone who earns $72,000 a year without outsourcing, I challenge the notion that success requires delegation or exploitation. When I do choose to outsource, it will be to qualified contractors or employees who are compensated fairly for their expertise.
Chapter 2: The Productivity Fallacy
If I had a dollar for every time I heard the phrase "work smarter, not harder" touted as groundbreaking advice, I could retire comfortably. Numerous business coaches seem to think they are the first to uncover this principle. Their guidance primarily revolves around the idea that entrepreneurs just need to boost productivity to cut costs.
Well, obviously!
As someone who has graduated from various entrepreneurial incubator programs, I can affirm that most aspiring business owners do not want to work harder. Yet, we often find ourselves doing just that. We are aware that we spend excessive time refining our businesses and striving for perfection, ultimately needing to create a self-sustaining operation.
Unfortunately, business coaches rarely provide actionable strategies for this, as their success relies on selling unproven, overpriced "signature packages." They are not genuinely interested in offering solutions, as their business model resembles a pyramid scheme: the more people they enroll, the more they profit without delivering real value.
Genuine business productivity develops gradually through system refinement and team building. It is not something that can be bought or forced. So, when business gurus market a "work smarter, not harder" solution, remember that only you understand the most effective way for your business to function. If reaching your income goals requires 40 hours of work each week, there is no shame in that—nor any need to imitate those who promote a 4-hour workweek while selling dubious advice.
In conclusion, many business coaches and "gurus" promote the 4-hour workweek, automation tools, "signature packages," and exploitative practices as the keys to entrepreneurial success. However, this is not true entrepreneurship; it is merely playing at being an entrepreneur while perpetuating the same exploitative and repetitive tactics employed by corporations and MLMs.
If you genuinely possess something unique to offer your clients, you do not need shortcuts to attract them. While delegating tasks can be challenging, you will achieve far more with a skilled team than by exploiting low-cost labor.
Above all, keep in mind that automation is merely a tool and not a catch-all solution. There will always be mundane tasks associated with business ownership—this is simply part of the role. I assure you, you will waste more time chasing advice from dubious business coaches than you would spend on those tasks.
So, safeguard your finances and mental well-being. Ignore the allure of business "gurus" who seek to profit from offering the same knowledge you could easily find on platforms like HubSpot. Ultimately, you are the key to your entrepreneurial advancement.
This video presents the top five strategies for scaling your business effectively, helping you navigate the entrepreneurial landscape.
In this video, discover the six best pieces of business advice that contributed to significant financial success, offering insights for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Enjoyed this narrative? If you’re interested in expert writing tips and exclusive insights, sign up for my mailing list to receive biweekly writing advice, inspirational quotes, thematic content roundups, and access to a hidden story.