The world paid close attention to the summit between President Trump and Kim Jong Un. Regardless of its ultimate outcome, there’s a lesson going on every entrepreneur should learn. Namely, how to avoid snakes in business. The Fable of the Scorpion and the Frog They come by different names: charlatans, cheats, hustlers, swindlers, and more. For those who’ve not heard it, the fable of the scorpion and the frog weaves a short, cautionary tale. A scorpion needs to cross a river and asks a frog for a lift. The frog objects, saying the scorpion will sting and kill him. Regardless of their specific methods, con artists typically depend on their abilities to charm, intimidate, and rapidly spin convincing lies. More often than not, con artists are successful because well-meaning staff members accidentally provide crucial information in an attempt to assist them. Ultimately, the best way to protect your business from con artists is to make your team aware that they exist. CEOs and their team members should be constantly vigilant about what they share and with whom. —Forbes.com But, the scorpion points out, if he were to sting the frog, both would drown in the river. The frog reluctantly agrees and midway, the scorpion stings him. The frog asks why and the scorpion replies, “It’s my nature, I’m a scorpion.” How to Avoid Con Artists to Protect Your Business Now, con men cleverly disguise their true natures. They conceal their actual motives and that’s what makes them so difficult to spot. But, there are usually at least one or two (even more) warning signs. Here are a few ways to avoid con artists to protect your business: Listen to your gut. Con men know how to read people — it’s a necessary trait. So, they are careful to convince. Which means, it’s not easy to spot the scheme straight away. But, your gut feeling might be all you need to avoid becoming a victim. Put things into perspective. This is another way of saying, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” In other words, if you hear something that seems to be too good, put it into perspective. More particularly, place it up against reality. If it’s like trying to hammer a square peg into a round hole, you have your answer. Don’t hesitate to ask around. Shysters need to move on and move quickly before word spreads. While it might not be comfortable, ask around. Do a little digging if you get a funny feeling to see if others had a bad experience. It’s worth your time and effort in the long run. Trust but verify. Along the same lines is to verify. Check out what they’re selling to learn if it’s genuine or just a hustle. With a small amount of sleuthing, you can save yourself a lot of grief. How do you spot charlatans? What additional advice would you give others about avoiding con artists? Please share your thoughts and experiences by commenting! Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group.

Did the solar eclipse reveal your business blind spot? Probably not. And, you’ve likely not even considered you actually have a business blind spot. But, there’s a really high probability you do — you just don’t see it. Sure, life throws obstacles in our way — that’s expected. However, one of the most obtuse isn’t always from an outside source — it’s from within. What’s more, you don’t recognize it for what it truly is and that’s your business blind spot. How to Find Your Business Blind Spot It could well be you’re relying too much on short-cuts in communication — texting instead of actual face-to-face interactions. Or, it might just be something completely different. In a vehicle, it’s quite easy to identify the blind spot. We all know where it’s located in the cars we drive. But, when it comes to business, your blind spot hides until you actively look for it. And, it’s probably tripping you up clandestinely. Entrepreneurs regularly confront a host of tough challenges. Just a sampling among them: landing their first sale, growing their customer base, hiring the right employees, managing cash flow and getting access to funding. But the biggest challenge entrepreneurs may face is either a self-limiting or self-inflated view of their capabilities. Possessing fear, self-doubt, over-confidence, in-group thinking, misplaced commitment to a selected course of action or entrepreneurial myopia are just some ways an entrepreneur can sabotage his or her business. —Entrepreneur.com For some entrepreneurs, it’s not effectively dealing with critics. Hey, why waste time on such a thing? For others, it’s being too myopic, focusing on one thing and not seeing the bigger picture. So, what’s your business blind spot? What is it that you just don’t see? The best way to uncover it is to seek information from different sources. Once you have a more robust picture, you’ll easily be able to pin down your own business blind spot: Introspection. A little self-reflection goes a long, long way, particularly when you’re completely honest. Look inside for some answers. What is it that you already know is an inherent weakness? You can also look back on a time when you fell short and examine that event to uncover answers. Team input. After you look inward, it’s time to see if that lines up with what others who work with you observe. Don’t be surprised if you’ve missed the mark. While Introspection can really be insightful, it can also lead to blind spots if we don’t bring balance with other perspectives. Customer feedback. Your customers are also a great source of information. Solicit feedback and take it to heart. Don’t dismiss what you learn because they want you to be your best. After all, it benefits them, as well. So listen earnestly and take appropriate action thereafter. Retracing your steps. When you make a mistake, you learn from the experience. But, it shouldn’t be cursory. Carefully retrace your steps. What is it that you did that lead you in the wrong direction? Even if it’s an outside force, you made a decision. Look into your weaknesses. Your weaknesses are sometimes known as excuses. But, like mistakes, you can learn from your weaknesses and best of all, work to make improvements. It could be your business blind spot lies in a weakness. Have you identified your business blind spot? What steps did you use to uncover what you didn’t clearly see? Please share your thoughts and experiences by leaving a comment! Would you like to read more about Blind Spots? My friend, Kevin McCarthy, keynote speaker, trainer and author just published a compelling and informative book describing how his blind spots landed him in a federal prison for 33 months for a crime he didn’t knowingly commit. Learn more about: “Blind Spots – Why Good People Make Bad Choices”. Interested in learning more about business? Then just visit Waters Business Consulting Group. [shareaholic app=”follow_buttons” id=”26833294″]