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Defeat The 7 Agents of Business Chaos

Posted September 20, 2012 by

The Con. The Jack-Of-All-Trades. Overload. The Gorilla. Ms. Opportunity. The Siphon. The Jumbler.

You can defeat these 7 Agents of Chaos by becoming a focused business hero. Watch this video and learn WHO these villains are and HOW you can defeat them.

 


Action Steps:

  1. After watching the video, please comment about which of the 7 Agents of Chaos are preventing you from achieving your goals.

Principles:

  1. There are 7 Agents of Chaos in business.
  2. To be successful in business, you must defeat these 7 Agents of Chaos.
  3. Before you defeat them, you must understand them.


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  • Tara

    The gorilla has just left my company so now dealing with the aftermath! i am also a victim of the con – gonna need my own super power…

    • http://DaveCrenshaw.com/ Dave Crenshaw

      Congrats on the Gorilla exit. It’s well worth it in the long run.

  • Louise

    I’ve been fortunate never to have encountered The Gorilla, and I’ve learned to start saying no to Siphons as soon as I recognize them, so they don’t stick around long. The other 5 are all alive and well. I get most angry at the con, and am currently working hardest on defeating the Jumbler (he’s not tooooo strong) and Jack-of-all-Trades (just when I think I’m getting rid of him he shows up again…)

    This is a fun was to think of all these roadblocks!

    • http://DaveCrenshaw.com/ Dave Crenshaw

      Thanks for the candid self-assessment, Louise. I think it’s fun, too!

  • Deric Glissmeyer

    I started out as the Jack-Of-All-Trades and then learned to delegate! Yay! Overload kept haunting me; see above. Ms. Opportunity abounded with different “ways” to advertise to get more customers… but The Siphon(s) kept popping up and I never did figure out how to get rid of some of them, except for price increases for them… too much effort without enough return

    • http://DaveCrenshaw.com/ Dave Crenshaw

      Price increases helps weed out Siphons, but it also has a lot to do with who you are targeting with your marketing and your products or services. Pre-qualifying systems can help to sift the Siphons, as well.

      Congrats on your progress with delegation, Deric.

  • http://www.facebook.com/daniel.e.hayes Daniel Emmett Hayes

    Ms. Opportunity is killing me!

    • http://DaveCrenshaw.com/ Dave Crenshaw

      She kills a lot of entrepreneurs, Daniel! You can begin to fight her by identifying your Most Valuable Line (as in line of products or services). Then devote all your attention into developing that instead of chasing the bright shiny objects Ms Opportunity throws at you.

  • Jean

    I have dismissed a few Siphons but chose to make some exceptions for a few people with a lower income. There is a difference in my choosing to help someone and a customer who doesn’t think that the policies apply to them.Watch out for the Gorilla who comes wearing a little kitten costume, who does everything right and has a good attitude UNTIL something doesn’t go teir way. Little behind the back talks, and manipulation come into play sometimes from the ‘sweetest’ people. My biggest challenge is still ADHD, which Iam coming to realize, forms more a part of my work style than I realized. Looking for solutions, Dave…..

    • http://DaveCrenshaw.com/ Dave Crenshaw

      Re Siphons: you nailed a critical identifier. Siphons ASK for or DEMAND exceptions. Customers in real need rarely ask, but it can be your pleasure as the business owner to CHOOSE to help them.

      And I love this: “Watch out for the Gorilla who comes wearing a little kitten costume”. That’s awesome (and very true!)

      Regarding you’re ongoing challenge with the lack of focus, you’re not alone. That’s why I put together the Focused Business Retreat on November 8-9 in Salt Lake. If you’re a fit we’d love to have you attend: http://focusedbusiness.com

      • Jean

        Thanks, Dave, I would love to, but I am leaving to teach for three weeks in Kenya on Nov. 13th. I’ll be pretty busy right here.

        • http://DaveCrenshaw.com/ Dave Crenshaw

          Sounds like a great experience. Enjoy!

  • http://www.facebook.com/angie.r.snow Angie Robbins Snow

    I’m definitely plagued with the Jack of all trades and Ms. Opportunity. I tend to think I can accomplish every opportunity that comes my way and I think I can accomplish them all, but instead end up with a bunch of unfinished projects. I think it’s time to delegate more and take one opportunity at a time so I don’t meet overload! Lol!

  • Jack

    so stupid…..

    • http://DaveCrenshaw.com/ Dave Crenshaw

      One of the things I’ve been working towards is creating messages that are a bit more polarizing. In order to have raving fans you’ve got to have some haters. So, thanks for the validation. Truly.

  • mike

    all of them and I’m a one man show…. business schizophrenia?

    • http://DaveCrenshaw.com/ Dave Crenshaw

      Even as a one man show you can fight all of them…well all except Jack-of-All-Trades. But even then you can minimize the damage. Thanks for the comment, Mike.

  • Lisa

    I can leave the gorilla out, and not too many siphons as far as customers go, but heck, the rest of them are clouding my vision! ha ha…

  • Nancy

    Helpful information!!! I am challenged by the “Overload” ! Yikes! At this very moment I feel like I don’t know where to turn , there are sooooo many choices . Exactly what you said, Dave, I just freeze! Now I have the understanding.

  • JN9NE Creative

    I’d have to say overload. :-) Sometimes I find myself locking up because of so much research on what step to take next, whether it’s new marketing avenues, skill building, etc.

    • http://DaveCrenshaw.com/ Dave Crenshaw

      Thanks, JN9NE. More help is on the way…

  • http://www.facebook.com/manish.dabkara Manish Dabkara

    Hi Dave,
    Can you pls tell me all in detail, so make more clear understandings.

    • http://DaveCrenshaw.com/ Dave Crenshaw

      A much more detailed explanation, along with tools on how to fight these “Agents of Chaos”, is coming in my next book. :-)

  • Bonnie

    Within the past year I’ve found BOTH my husband and I have ADHD which while educating myself I’ve found out why we’ve been so frustrated with each other and with my husbands business. He literally IS the Jack of all Trades. His business is to do anything for his customers from plowing, roofing, additions, painting, taking tree’s down etc. He doesn’t keep up with billings and won’t allow me or anyone else to help out much at all. He doesn’t advertise and rely’s on word of mouth. We’ve done alright but have always known we could do MUCH better. With times getting tough here in Michigan people from Detroit are coming up and under bidding him so he’s getting a little worried. We need to act fast and developeand organize his business MUCH better asap!

    • http://DaveCrenshaw.com/ Dave Crenshaw

      Hi, Bonnie. I’m sorry to hear about the struggles your husband is having. What you’re describing is all to common for entrepreneurs. That’s why I’m excited to release my new book, The Focused Business, in just a few weeks. He’s under attack from a lot of the Agents of Chaos, not just Jack. Help is on the way!

 

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