What to do when you know something is wrong…
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This is a very useful story that will give you some clear guidance about how to handle situations when you know that something is wrong and you want to fix it without wasting a lot of time and energy.
So, the day I returned home from Hawaii (after an amazing vacation), I got a strange rash on the top of my hands (gross….I know).
Because my body tends to heal itself pretty quickly, I didn’t pay much attention to it….until it was still there 9 days later (ouch!).
Each day, it would look better, then worse, then better, then worse…so I was in one of those spaces where I wasn’t really sure what to do….but I knew something was wrong.
When friends of mine would see it (because it was pretty hard to miss), they would come up with all types of different hypotheses to diagnose my situation. I would hear things like:
“The universe is clearly trying to tell you something about your hands” and “You’ve built up so much excess heat that you should look at how you’re directing your energy.”
While all of this information could be true, I had a truly enlightening experience when I decided to visit the dermatologist – AKA, the expert at skin disorders.
Within 10 seconds of walking in the room, she said: “Oh, you have Phytophotodermatitis, which comes from getting citrus on your hands and then spending excess time in the sun. It’s nothing to worry about and if you use this cream, it will clear up within a short period of time.”
At that moment, I reflected back on my last days in Hawaii and realized that this is EXACTLY what happened….problem solved!
So, was it some deeply rooted psychological issue that I needed to “look at?” NO!! It was a simple (physical) reaction to an external circumstance….that’s it!
AND the best part is that our 3 minute consultation cost me $100!
Why, might you be asking, is that the best part?
Because it validated some extremely important and valuable points that are deeply relevant to your business…and here it is.
Think of how much time, energy, and money I would have wasted if, instead of going right to the expert, I went to a bunch of different healers who weren’t specialized in this particular area.
While well-intentioned, these people probably would have given me all sorts of different theories as to why I got a rash, and what it means, and why I brought this on myself.
Which of course would have caused me to get all worried and over-analyze my situation to death (now I’m just being dramatic).
But there’s a valid point in all this – and that’s to always make sure you are going to get help from the people who are specialists in the area that you need guidance.
Think about it…Was $100 for 3 minutes expensive? YES!
Was it worth the incredible peace of mind I received knowing exactly what this was, that it wasn’t a big deal, and the easy steps to clear it up?
That’s an even bigger YES!!!!
And, do you think that this woman who worked her butt off to get through medical school had an quandaries about charging that much for her great work?
Of course not…
SO, there are two great lessons in this post for you.
The first is to make sure that you are going to the experts for help (I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again).
If someone says they can do everything, be wary…because that usually means they just haven’t focused on becoming a specialist…which means that you won’t receive the precise guidance and clarity you’re looking for.
AND, even if it seems like it might cost a little more up-front to get their knowledge and expertise, understand the BIG-PICTURE benefits, like saving time, peace of mind, and clarity of focus….because once you have these energies, it’s MUCH EASIER to show up at your highest (which will allow you to make more money and help more people).
The second is to focus your energy and attention on becoming “an expert” because that will allow you to feel completely and totally comfortable asking for and receiving what you’re truly worth.
You feel me?
(As a note, this post might make some people upset because I’m sure someone it could be interpreted as me knocking healers. But that’s not the case AT ALL. I’m simply stating that it’s always best to seek help from those who are specialized in a very specific area, and to avoid those who think that can do everything for all people.)
So, now it’s your turn to share.
Can you share a story about when you either didn’t go with an expert (and what happened) or when you decided to “bite the bullet” and make the investment (and what happened). Maybe you had a positive experience with the “non-expert” and a terrible experience with the “expert”.
Whatever happened, please share your story as a comment below…because I am LOVING reading your thoughts!!
P.S. If you’re not sure about how to become an expert in your field, I have great news! Today is the last day to register for my FREE call: Make Money Without Compromise (because it’s happening tonight). Click here to grab one of the last “seats” because this is where you’ll learn how to become a trusted and recognized authority for sharing your gifts.
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That is an excellent post and I found it truly relevant because I am always one to look for the deeper (aka spiritual) meaning of every event and tend to ignore the more practical solutions…
I had a similar problem with a rash on my hands that came and went intermittently and went to my doctor who said he’d seen a program called embarrassing illnesses and someone on the show had a rash that looked similar to mine but he couldn’t for the life of him remember what she’d had but gave me a generic steriod cream to clear it up.
Now no.1 I didn’t think I had an embarrassing illness till I walked into his treatment room! No.2 The fact that he was guessing at what it was based on a tv show and ‘trying out’ a solution on me was a bit worrying! No.3 ok there is no no.3 but my point is that he wasn’t an expert on hand rashes he was a general practitioner and I didn’t have much faith in his ability.
The rash is still there intermittently and I won’t be going back to him lol but I will refer myself to an expert if it doesn’t clear up. I am still trying to find what my field of expertise is and you’re right Max I won’t feel comfortable charging good money for my services until I know exactly what it is, so I’m on a quest to sincerely know my field of expertise… You speak to my heart and I thank you for that.
Ha ha (not laughing at your hands), but at myself and recollections. I am familiar with this tendency! I stopped doing this as much as possible in the last few years, but I used to do this all of the time. It was slightly different….I wouldn’t ask non-experts necessarily, but I would choose the less expensive option for something and then later have to go back and re-do it. The better option isn’t always more expensive, but it’s important to go with the most effective option whenever possible. This past year, I have hired only the best people and I don’t mess around and it’s a much faster path.
On the other hand, Max, a year ago I went to six oral surgeons, all experts and specialists in head/neck/throat, who wanted to take a quarter of my mouth away because of the presence of a tumor. I decided to follow a nutritionist’s advice, changed my diet and life style, and the tumor is slowly shrinking away. If I’d listened to the first experts, I’d be wearing a prosthetic now, and for the rest of my life.
So the moral here is, be careful which ‘specialists’ you listen to.
-Don
These are GREAT stories!!! Keep em’ coming…I love this!
I love this post.
I practiced law for 20 years and I was the expert yet I found that many people did not want to pay for the expert. Then they would go and get themselves in all sorts of trouble and then want me to fix their mess. I realized I preferred being a preventative expert instead of a fix the problem/mess expert.
Now, as a coach, I am another type of expert. I have no problem advertising my services and charging for them.
Get in alignment before you go listening to an expert and listen well. As the expert is telling you stuff, your emotions will let you know if it is for you or not.
Thanks
Iyabo Asani
MAX,
GREAT TO READ ALL THE REPLYS!
BOY THIS IS HARD FOR ME. THIS YEAR EXPECIALLY HAS BEEN TOUGH FOR ME DEALING WITH SOME OF MY OWN HEALTH ISSUES.
I WENT BACK TO DOING YOGA CLASSES 5 DAYS A WEEK AND SPINNING . I HAD NOT COMBINED THE TWO TOGETHER BEFORE IN A WORKOUT ROUTE. AFTER A FEW WEEKS MY BODY JUST SAID STOP BUT MY HEART WAS EXCITED TO BACK DOING A REGULAR ROUTINE. MY LOWER BACK HURT SO BADLY I COULDN’T EVEN STAND UP…I HAD TO GO BACK TO BED FOR A GOOD 3 DAYS.
I GUESS YOU COULD SAY MAYBE THE TEACHERS WERE NOT EXPERTS. THEY ARE CERTIFIED YOGA TEACHERS AND SPINNNG INSTRUCTORS. IN A NICE NEARBY GYM CALLED BLUE TURTLE.
IT HAS BEEN THREE MONTH AND I STILL HAVE SOME DISCOMFORT. I HAVE NOT BEEN BACK TO ANY OF THOSE CLASSES YET. IT IS MY SCIATIC NERVE AND IT REALLY SENDS A SHARP PAIN DOWN LEFT LEG SOMETIMES. IT HAS IMPROVED OVER THE PAST TWO MONTH.
FINDING A EXPERT I FEEL COMFORTABLE WTH IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR ME AFTER THIS RECENT EXPERIENCE.
BEING A ARTIST /DESIGNER MY ENTIRE LIFE HAS BEEN INTERESTING WHEN IT CONCERNS MONEY. IT ALWAYS STRIKES ME IN A FUNNY WAY WHEN PEOPLE QUESTION MY PRICING. I NEVER TAKE THE MONEY PERSONAL THE MONEY IS BUSINESS. BUT, MY PAINTING IS DIFFERENT…. I HAVE DEDICATED MY LIFE TO MY ARTIST TALENTS MAY IT BE DESIGNING FABRICS OR PAINTING A LANDSCAPE ON MAUI.
MAX SINCE YOU JUST GOT BACK FROM HAWAII PLEASE CHECK OUT MY PAINTING FROM MAUI. I LOVED PAINTING THERE!! MY WEB SITE HAVE SOME MAUI PIECES.
BEST GO FOR TONIGHT , JOY
Thank you, Max. I always appreciate the wisdom and humor in your stories; so many of them come to me at just the right moments
I, too, have certainly chosen very roundabout routes (but seemingly the paths of least resistance) to getting problems fixed, but the generalist vs. specialist point hits home most for me today.
I seem to have developed the habit of becoming a generalist as a result of my “collecting” skills and interests. For instance, I studied music as an undergrad, Waldorf (a holistic education approach) and early childhood education in grad school, and now I’m going back to school to study baking and pastry arts. I will be eternally grateful for all my educational experiences and opportunities, but I cannot help but wonder about my tendency to shift gears before I get to the point of becoming an expert in any particular field. Maybe I’m in denial that I can’t be an expert in everything? Haha. Maybe I’m afraid of choosing the right path to totally immerse myself in, especially before I’m tried out other things?
Thank you for the food for thought, Max. And I am glad your hands are healthy again.
Elizabeth