By: Kenneth F. Petersen, CEO Encharter Insurance
Ever wonder “Why can’t my organization get to the next level?” Does it ever seem like there is an invisible hand, inside your organization holding you back from the full potential you know your organization can achieve? Let me introduce you to that invisible hand – HEAD TRASH.
What is head trash? It is the set of self limiting beliefs we all carry around inside of us. It is the thing that holds us back and is the main reason why some leaders take their organizations to great heights, while other leaders do not achieve great things with their organizations. The amount of Head Trash you carry with you is why your organization will never be able to grow beyond you as a leader. For me, this is what keeps me up at night. Am I limiting the growth and success of Encharter Insurance? The answer I am forced to conclude is – Yes, I am my organization’s chief limitation and at the same time the main catalyst for expansion. The minimum that I believe is achievable is the maximum my organization will ever accomplish.
So how do I identify my “Head Trash”? The main question is this – Is what I am attempting to achieve truly impossible or is it impossible simply because I don’t want to take responsibility? Have others been able to achieve it, just not me.
-For instance, for me to say I want to fly, unaided by any equipment is impossible. No one has achieved it and therefore, no amount of planning or effort will allow me to achieve this feat. However, for me to grow my operation double digits in a down economy is not impossible. There are MA Insurance Agents and CT Insurance Agents that have done it. Although the people who have are few, the feat is possible. Therefore, the limitation on my ability to achieve this feat is me, not the market, or the economy, or my people. These are all excuses. Ways for me not to take blame for what I cannot achieve but others have.
As a leader, this hurts, because it places my organization’s success or failure right where it belongs – at my feet. However, at the same time, it is liberating. I have the ability to achieve what others have achieved and perhaps beyond – provided I believe it to be possible and take action based upon that belief.
So in this new light, take a look at your goals and objectives for 2011. Have you successfully accomplished all that you set out to do? If your answer is no, yet you know of others in your market who have, what is holding you back?” The answers you are giving to this question:
- Have you looked at the Economy?
- My product is becoming a commodity! People won’t pay more for what I have.
- My people are holding me back!
- Customers lack the loyalty they once had
This is your “head trash”! Time to look your problems dead in the eye for what they are – excuses. Time to move beyond!
Tags: CT Insurance, Insurance Management, MA Insurance, Sales Growth, Senior Leadership
July 15, 2011 at 3:00 pm |
Great post, Ken! Both encouraging and convicting at the same time. We truly can be either the source of our own greatest successes or our own worst enemy…
July 18, 2011 at 12:47 pm |
[...] Kennethpetersen's Blog A Blog about Business Leadership « What’s holding your organization back? Head Trash! [...]
October 26, 2011 at 9:10 pm |
[...] #1 – It all starts with a belief that you can do it! Although I am slightly out of shape, I know that running in a Marathon and finishing is possible. I know of plenty of people my age that have trained, gotten in shape and finished a marathon. Therefore, finishing a Marathon for me is possible – it is simply a matter of whether or not I want to put in the time and effort. For me to say otherwise is “Head Trash”. [...]