{"id":1375,"date":"2010-06-04T14:45:47","date_gmt":"2010-06-04T14:45:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localenterprise.wordpress.com\/?p=1153"},"modified":"2010-06-04T14:45:47","modified_gmt":"2010-06-04T14:45:47","slug":"never-teach-a-pig-to-sing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/realisedevelopment.net\/index.php\/2010\/06\/04\/never-teach-a-pig-to-sing\/","title":{"rendered":"Never Teach a Pig to Sing"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Teaching<\/p>\n

Never teach a pig to sing. \u00a0It frustrates you and annoys the pig.<\/p>\n

Mark Twain<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Yet this\u00a0is\u00a0often what we try to do.<\/p>\n

It is not enough that we find a wonderful artisan with a great product.<\/p>\n

No, we also expect them to be great marketers and financial managers too. \u00a0We may as well ask them to\u00a0walk\u00a0on water while we are at it.<\/p>\n

We try to teach the pig to sing.<\/p>\n

Instead we should be helping the pig to be the very best pig it can be.<\/p>\n

To become the very essence of pigginess.<\/p>\n

And we should show the importance of finding someone who is able to market and sell their products and services and to make sure that their financial management and planning is robust.<\/p>\n

The most common objections to a team based approach to enterprise?<\/p>\n

‘I can’t afford to hire anyone’,<\/p>\n

and<\/p>\n

‘I must learn to do all of this if I am to be a real business person’.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

One of the best things that the coach can do is to effectively confront the pig with its limitations.<\/p>\n

Tell it to give up the vocal coaching and find someone else to sing for their supper. \u00a0And it need not cost much at all – certainly to get started. \u00a0It is\u00a0nearly\u00a0always possible to find someone who will work with you for nothing, or for\u00a0commission, or for equity if they really\u00a0see what a beautiful pig you are….<\/p>\n