You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know
You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know: Why a Great Coach Changes Everything
You might be the expert in your industry, maybe even the best in the country at what you do. You know your craft inside and out. You’ve dedicated years to mastering the technical side of your business. Clients trust you because you deliver exceptional results. But here’s the harsh truth: expertise in your trade doesn’t automatically translate to expertise in growing, managing, and scaling a successful business.
That doesn’t mean you have all the answers about how to grow your business with the least struggle and stress. Building a business isn’t just about what you know — it’s about who you learn from, the questions you’re willing to ask, and the blind spots you’re brave enough to confront.
One of my biggest regrets in business is that I didn’t hire a coach from day one. I thought I had it all figured out. Like many entrepreneurs, I let pride and stubbornness get in the way. I believed sheer hard work and determination were enough. But looking back, I see how much time, money, and energy I could have saved with the right guidance.
You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know
Sadly, it took me years to figure this one out. When you’re deep in the day-to-day grind of your business, you think you’re seeing the whole picture — but you’re not. There are gaps you don’t even realize exist, and it’s those unknown blind spots that cost you the most: lost opportunities, wasted resources, and mistakes that drain your energy and momentum. A great coach helps you uncover what you don’t know you’re missing so you can make smarter moves and avoid learning everything the hard way.
Better Questions Lead to Better Answers
Even though a coach doesn’t know everything, they know how to ask better questions — the kind that lead to better answers, smarter decisions, and real breakthroughs. A great coach isn’t there to hand you a magic formula. They’re there to challenge your assumptions, hold you accountable, and help you see what you can’t see. They bring a perspective you simply can’t get from inside your own head, helping you break through the mental barriers and limiting beliefs that keep you stuck.
Coaching Gives You Back Your Time and Freedom
Coaching isn’t just about growth — it’s about getting your time and freedom back. When you’re stuck in survival mode, every day feels like a firefight: putting out problems, juggling demands, and never feeling truly in control. A coach helps you step out of the chaos and build a business that runs more smoothly — one with systems, processes, and a clear plan. That means fewer late nights, less stress, and more time for what actually matters: your health, your family, your passions, and your life outside of work. Because what’s the point of building a successful business if you don’t get to enjoy the life it’s supposed to create?
Compress Time
A great coach will help you compress time. You can spend years — even decades — trying to figure it all out on your own. Or you can tap into the experience, perspective, and proven strategies of someone who’s already walked the path. A coach helps you skip the endless trial and error, learn faster, and achieve your goals in a fraction of the time. It’s like having a shortcut through the maze of business, so you can get where you want to go with far less frustration, wasted effort, and cost.
Smart People Stay Curious
Smart people learn from everyone and everything; average people learn only from their own experiences; and stupid people think they already have all the answers. The moment you believe you know it all is the moment your growth stops dead in its tracks. The smartest leaders stay curious, humble, and hungry for knowledge. They seek out mentors, coaches, peers, and even competitors to learn from. They know every conversation, every mistake, and every new perspective can teach them something that helps them get better, faster. If you’re serious about success, surround yourself with people who challenge your thinking — not just those who tell you what you want to hear.
You Make Better Decisions Faster
In the early days, every choice feels critical — pricing, hiring, marketing, processes. A coach helps you cut through overwhelm, weigh options objectively, and make confident decisions that move you forward instead of second-guessing yourself or getting stuck in analysis paralysis.
You Set Up the Right Foundations the First Time
Most owners waste years fixing problems caused by poor early decisions: hiring the wrong people, messy systems, underpricing, weak offers. A coach helps you build solid foundations — clarity of purpose, strategic goals, efficient processes, and a compelling value proposition — so your business is set up to scale smoothly.
You Avoid Drifting Off Course
Without guidance, it’s easy to chase shiny objects, get distracted, or lose focus on your core mission. A coach helps you stay laser-focused on what actually matters, aligning your daily actions with your long-term goals.
You Gain Someone Invested in Your Success but Outside Your Emotional Swirl
Friends and family might support you emotionally, but they’re not equipped (or unbiased enough) to help you navigate tough decisions. A coach provides objective support, tough love, and practical advice — without emotional baggage — so you get clear, actionable feedback.
You Establish Accountability Habits Early
High performers don’t just set goals — they report progress, adjust plans, and keep promises to themselves and others. A coach helps you build accountability habits from day one, making steady progress inevitable rather than optional.
You Protect Your Health and Relationships
A business without boundaries will consume you, hurting your health and family life. Coaches can spot early warning signs of burnout and help you establish balance, so you don’t succeed at the cost of what matters most.
You Save Enormous Amounts of Money
Mistakes are expensive — bad hires, poor contracts, wrong marketing channels, or legal issues can cost thousands. The right coach helps you avoid rookie mistakes and bad investments that drain your cash flow.
You Expand Your Network Exponentially
Great coaches open doors — to other experts, potential partners, valuable resources, and industry opportunities you wouldn’t find alone. The right connections can be game-changing for your business growth and future success.
The Best Time to Invest in a Coach
The best time to invest in a coach was the day you started. The second-best time is today. Don’t wait years like I did. Don’t waste time hoping you’ll stumble across the perfect strategy on your own. A coach can help you compress time, avoid costly mistakes, and build the business — and life — you actually want.
Bernard Powell – High Performance Coach
Founder of Premier Business Academy & The Business Gym
www.premierbusinessacademy.co.nz
For the price of a coffee per day, join the Business Gym and get your business into shape in just 15 mins per day. Escape your small business prison now:
https://www.skool.com/the-business-gym-3421/about?ref=c7aa31422f204551a9df58bc93ec0c89
Tagged Business Growth Strategy, Business Tips, Decision Making, entrepreneurial mindset, Growth, high performance habits, Mindset, small business growth tips
