There are five different personality traits that kill businesses, each an example of getting in your own way:

a) Lazy

b) Egotistical

c) Selfish

d) Greedy

e) Stupid

Each characteristic hits me like nails on a chalkboard…

No matter how much someone asks me to help them grow their business, if I detect any of these traits – I don’t accept them as a client…

Why?

Because people with these traits often can’t get out of their own way.

You see, you need to know who you can help…

…And who you can’t.

If you take on the wrong client/customer/patient, they won’t accept personal responsibility for not getting the result you promised…

They’ll blame you.

For example:

I hired a local house painter in early April and – like many entrepreneurs who discover I’m a best-selling author and “business guru” – he felt compelled to share his business struggles.

He blamed everything from the economy to the lack of good help.

Yet, when it came down to the facts, I discovered HE was the problem.

He scheduled the job to start in May…

Only to later find out he was going to miss the start date…

Then he missed the early June target…

Then mid-June…

Then last Thursday…

And he’s still a no-show.

As expected, he had plenty of excuses. Yet, as a consumer, does any of that matter to you?

You expect results.

And once he realized there was no chance of meeting the deadline – and this is what really drove me through the roof – he sent me a text message to say he decided not to do the job.

IDIOT!

This was a stupid business decision… and now that I see how he runs his business, his struggles are obvious.

Love it or not, the reality is that sh!t happens, and yes, sometimes obstacles get in the way…

So when trouble comes knocking, make no excuses. Own up to it and find a way to make it right.

Like when I ran into a warranty issue with my vehicle…

The car company couldn’t come up with a fix fast enough, so they rented me a nice car and offered cash toward a replacement if I was unsatisfied with the rental.

Yes, I can help you grow your business with marketing…

And with automated marketing systems…

And with better sales strategies…

However, if you don’t place your customer as priority #1 and deliver exceptional service… You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig.

Customer service can be a significant profit center when structured correctly…

Of course, many more are available to you too.

In fact, if you haven’t checked out “21 Advanced Profit Centers for Crushing Your Competition” – I recommend you do it now.

There’s a reason why Andy Renk, co-founder of Business Marketing Insider, said it’s “One of the best things I’ve ever read!”

I believe you’ll say the same thing too…

Here’s to getting out of your own way,