We have all heard the Chinese proverb, “give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” We know that it is important to take the time to teach people things rather than just doing it for them. However, when it comes to business we often forget the benefits of giving out this knowledge and try to keep it for ourselves.
Often times, small business owners do not have the time to self-teach marketing and social media. Sometimes, their employees will try to help, but they never get a full understanding or lesson. For the sake of time, they hire an employee, marketing firm or someone like me to come in and take care of it.
While I think that letting someone help you who knows more and can dedicate the necessary time is crucial, I think learning more is also ideal. I try to educate my clients as much as possible. Having them understand the process not only validates my credentials but helps to bridge the gap in knowledge that we may have had at the beginning.
I take the time to help my clients understand, so that they may be able to do it independently in the future. It may seem silly to try and push myself out of a job, but they will be more likely to recommend me to others if I can help them learn and grow. Not enough people take the time to support small businesses. My goal is always to help them save money and get a return on their investment.
I believe that what goes around comes around. So, I will always try to help my clients in the best way I know how. After all, that is what I am here for.