There’s an old saying that you’ve probably heard.
It’s, “Pride comes before the fall,” and it’s one that I think of often.
The saying originates with the Bible. Proverbs 16:18 states: “Pride goes before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
It’s a reminder that wisdom is eternal – and universal.
I see that lesson played out in many aspects of life, but I was thinking about it in context to business and how sometimes our pride gets in the way of seeking and receiving good advice.
It’s so important to learn from those who went before you.
Contrary to what you may have heard, experience is not the best teacher. Those lessons can be painful. Other people’s experience is the best teacher. Learning from the mistakes of those who went before you is much less painful than making those mistakes on your own.
Often when we get into business leadership we start to think we need to have all the answers. Successful people figure out that’s not true. Nobody has all the answers. We can learn them from each other. That requires humility, and an openness to listen and learn.
That’s why I have hired business coaches. So I can learn from their experience.
A few verses later in that same chapter of Proverbs is a related piece of advice applicable to our business life and leadership” “Wisdom is a fountain of life to one who has it: but folly is the punishment of fools.”
If you’re trying to grow your service business, reach out to see if I can help you learn from the experience of all the other companies I have worked with. Drop me an email or book a time to chat.
Talk soon.