Knowing what you don’t know

I used to have a monthly subscription for a music technology magazine. In one of its issues, the editor wrote: “We are introducing to you the latest innovations, but you don’t become a good musician by buying these. If you are a good musician, you can excel in your performance even playing an old instrument. State-of-the-art technology doesn’t improve your virtuosity, but it helps to present your skills better.”

For example, a new digital technology doesn’t improve the way you play the violin, but it plays an important role in how it is heard by the listeners.

The same is true in business life, up to a point. If you don’t know how to manage your company well, then irrespective of the systems that you use, you cannot grow your company beyond a certain level. But, if you know how to manage your company well, then you can even challenge your biggest competitors, who may have more developed systems than yours.

At this point the correct question would be: How will you decide whether or not you know your business and how to manage it well? Maybe there are new methodologies, currently utilized by others, but which you are not aware of. It is not possible to make a decision on something you don’t know.

To remedy that, I would recommend that you periodically invite external professionals and consultants – people who keep abreast of key developments in business life – to assess your organization and give you the benefit of their experience and insights.

It is hard to know what we don’t know… And for many business owners, it is not easy to accept that fact, and ask for outside help…

A solo without a real drum from a talented drummer: Best Drummer Ever

Song of the week: Gabrielle – Out of Reach (2001)