While practising some much-needed self care last week, after dealing with my mom’s sudden passing, I found a home decorating show, Instant Dream Home, on Netflix.

I liked having something on that didn’t require much thought but was informative enough to be of interest.

Still, I found I got quite annoyed at the end of the episodes.

I mean, they were so unrealistic! No one lives in a perfect space like that!

Notice how none (or very few) of their things, which were strewn all over the place, cluttering up the tiny space that needed fixing up, show up in the final reveal?

I mean, with the new space, and the vibrant colours, it sure looks amazing. It’s like something straight out of a Homes & Gardens magazine.

But it’s completely unusable by the homeowners.

I bet the moment the camera crew and designers left, they looked at each other and went, “Now what?”

And within a week, you can be sure that space was back to the cluttered mess it once was, albeit surrounded by the cool new knick-knacks that were just added, and are now taking up even more space.

Do you ever find things are somewhat similar when it comes to our businesses?

We take courses where the sales copy promises we’ll have a perfectly laid out plan, a 10-step process, and an “all-in-one” blueprint we can follow to gain the riches that were promised.

Only it never ends up that way.

The plan is confusing and convoluted.
The blueprint doesn’t match your business model.
The 10-step process misses about 100 steps.

Just like the home makeover shows, the world of business building is often fraught with these kinds of flaws and falsehoods.

Although, at least with the TV shows, the homeowners get some new knick-knacks.

But when it comes to those “all-in-one” business-building solutions, it’s rare that you’ll get the results that are promised.

Nine times out of ten, this doesn’t happen, unless you’re lucky enough to have the exact same business model as the person who sold it to you.

Otherwise, you’ll probably spend a lot of money and be left with just the scraps that were usable for your unique situation.

I see this time and time again when I talk to new clients who just finished spending thousands of dollars to learn the secret to business success, only to discover there were way too many pieces to the puzzle missing.

I’m really tired of hearing this over and over again. Are you?

Are you tired of being told one thing only to find out it’s not what you needed after all?

Feeling like you just wasted a bunch of time, energy, and money on a facade of success?

Going back to the home makeover shows, a long time ago, I had nominated a friend of mine to get one of those dream home makeovers.

What a mistake that was.

Don’t get me wrong, the place looked amazing when they were done, but it was completely wrong for my friend.

They threw away a lot of things she really needed, added completely inappropriate furniture, and appliances that hindered her special needs.

Needless to say, she was not impressed.

I felt terrible.

What a waste of time, energy, and money.

So, the next time you’re wooed by compelling marketing copy that promises incredible results, think about how realistic it really is that you’ll be able to get those results.

Ask yourself, will it fit your business model?

Do you have the time to do everything needed to make it work?

And do you have the knowledge to fill in the gaps that are surely going to be there?

Whatever you do, don’t fall victim to the bright, shiny objects that are bedazzling your dreams and aspirations.

Be objective.
Be realistic.
Be smart.

I’ve been helping business owners define their brands and build their businesses for more than 20 years. Let’s chat and see what strategy is best for you.

About the Author, Susan Friesen

Located in the lower mainland of B.C., Susan Friesen is a visionary brand strategist, entrepreneur, and founder of British Columbia’s premiere boutique web development and digital marketing agency, eVision Media.

With over 20 years of experience in the industry, she is an expert in helping businesses establish their online presence and create a strong brand identity.

Her passion for empowering entrepreneurs and small business owners to succeed in the digital world has earned her a reputation as a leading authority in the branding and marketing industry.

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