Definition of silver bullet: something that acts as a magical weapon especially one that instantly solves a long-standing problem
As a business coach, I find myself saying this often. In fact, I just had a conversation with a client this week. He’d asked me about an estimating program that “everyone” seems to be using and whether that was the answer for him. We’ve worked together for a while, so I didn’t even have to say it. He laughed and said, “I know – there are no silver bullets!”
There is not a perfect solution that fits all businesses, so just because one company is successful with a program or an approach, it doesn’t necessarily follow that it will be successful for your company.
If you hear about something that’s supposed to be the best thing since sliced bread, should you check it out? Absolutely. Check it out, evaluate it, and take your time to see if it will really be a fit for you and your company.
Since I coach entrepreneurs and have worked with hundreds of business owners over the course of my years as a coach and consultant, I’m often asked for the best way to do things or what works for all my other clients. Questions like:
- “What’s the best CRM?”
- “What’s the best estimating program?”
- “What’s the best compensation plan for my salesperson?”
- “What’s the best bonus system to motivate my employees?”
The answer is often, “It depends” or “The best program is one that fits your company, your culture, your unique needs, AND one that you will actually implement and use consistently.”
My job as a coach is to help you think through and evaluate what you really want to accomplish, what you need to do that and what’s the best fit for your company knowing your culture and your own strengths.
There is a solution out there for you for whatever business problem you are working to solve or system you want to improve. Sometimes it is what someone else is doing or an off the shelf software solution, but more often it is a process or a system that is tailored to work specifically for you.