Co-Founder Taliferro
Introduction
In the past, businesses had to invest heavily in their information technology and development teams to get a competitive edge. But thanks to the internet, companies can now find a wealth of free online resources that they can use to improve their business, such as open source platforms and APIs. The problem is that many companies don't take advantage of these resources because they're afraid of what might happen if something goes wrong with them; however, there are plenty of ways for businesses to leverage a variety of existing tools without putting themselves at risk.
Companies are afraid to use what's freely available
The other day, I talked to a friend who works at a large corporation, and she mentioned that they had just been assigned a project requiring them to collect data on their customers. She told me how her team had spent weeks figuring out how they would do it. They knew they needed the information but weren't sure if they could get it without investing in expensive software or hiring an outside company (which would take even longer).
As I listened, I wondered why no one had thought about using Google Analytics for this purpose. It seemed evident that using Google Analytics would be much easier and cheaper than anything else. The only thing stopping them from doing it was their fear of failure or uncertainty about what precisely needed to be done. We all have concerns like these when faced with new challenges or situations where we need help getting through something difficult - but these fears are not valid reasons for avoiding using freely available resources.
Companies are afraid to hire the right expertise
If a company is running on its own, it's natural that it wants to be its hero and do everything itself. But if you think about it, there is no such thing as "doing it all" by yourself. You will always need help and support from others. You are afraid to hire the right people.
The best way to get better results is by hiring the right expertise when needed instead of trying to do everything on your own (and failing). This goes for small businesses and large corporations - don't be afraid of bringing in experts or even hiring outside your industry.
And they're afraid to invest in their own people.
I know this sounds like a crazy thing to say, but it's true. Companies are afraid to invest in their people and resources because they get stuck on the old way of doing things. They're so scared that it won't work or will cost them more money than expected if they support it. And if we're honest with ourselves. But what happens when you invest in yourself? You grow your business. And it doesn't have to be complicated or expensive either. All you need is passion and dedication (and maybe some chocolate).
Plenty of resources are available, and companies should be more open-minded about trying new things.
Don't tell me that your company doesn't have the budget or expertise to do something. Just hire someone who can get it done.
Conclusion
There's no question that great resources exist for companies to use. The problem is that many businesses are still reluctant to try new things or invest in their people. It takes courage and vision to do something different, but those who do it will find themselves on the right side of history. The takeaway here? Don't be afraid. If you're running a company, then take some time out of your busy schedule today (or whenever) and think about what kind of resources would help you grow even faster than before. And if you're not running one yet but want to start one soon, well, do it. You never know where inspiration can come from, so don't let anything stop you from following your dreams, no matter how far off they seem at first glance.
Tyrone Showers