Question #
What personal development mistakes impacted the self-storage business over thirty-one years?
Answer #
As I approach Episode 500, I have been thinking a lot about the self-storage business and my thirty-one years in and around the business.
I was thinking about what I could share that would be helpful.
I had two startling insights.
The first was that what would be most helpful is not what I’ve done right, but more importantly, the biggest mistakes I have made.
The second was, as I wrote them out, the realization that none of my biggest mistakes were about the business itself necessarily or making a bad storage decision, although I’ve made my share.
They were personal development flaws in myself that had an impact on my business.
That reinforces my concept that if you want to grow and expand, work on yourself first, then tackle the business.
Expand who you are so you can expand your business.
So, with that said, let me share with you the five biggest mistakes I have made over my thirty-one years in the self-storage business.
Let me be clear here, I am grateful for all the partners I have had over the years, and there have been a lot.
I realize now that often, we tend to consciously, or unconsciously, seek partners to fill weaknesses we perceive in ourselves.
One of my weaknesses is the tendency to avoid conflict.
A lot of reasons for this, but it, like most people’s weaknesses, had its roots in my family of origin issues.
So often, I tend to surround myself with strong-willed people who will take on some of the harder tasks I tend to avoid, especially if I am unaware of my weaknesses as I was earlier in my career.
Source: The Five Biggest Mistakes I’ve Made Over My 31 Years In The Self-Storage Industry
