​Last week, I spent about an hour digging out my mom's driveway with the heaviest shovel ever made—one with a long, solid wooden handle and rusted, chipped and partly bent blade.

​It's a leftover from when my dad used to handle our snow removal, so we're talking probably a couple of decades old.

​It got me thinking how important it is to have the right tools for the job and how much harder a job becomes when you're using tools that don't fit the need or you.

​That old shovel made a tough job tougher not just because of the condition it was in but because it was too big and heavy for me.

​I often hear from entrepreneurs looking for a silver bullet solution for multiple needs in their businesses. I also know many that have invested in products or services that they never or barely use, and I can honestly say that that's happened to me, too.

My advice for finding tools and service partners worth investing in is:

• Dont' try to find one tool or consultant to solve everything.
• Put your needs in priority order and define how solving each will impact your business and bottomline.
• Set a realistic budget and be honest with yourself and others about what you can afford.
• Don't let someone sell you something that doesn't fit your business, budget or work style. If a solution means more work for you, then it's not the right solution.

​It's also really helpful to ask others for recommendations and referrals. I'm always happy to connect people to resources I think will serve them and their business well, so don't hesitate to reach out if you're in the market for support.

Until next time...

Your success is our strategy!