Your Canary in the Coal Mine?

In poker it’s called a tell.

The behavior that gives away the strength or weakness of your opponent’s hand.

In wholesaling, it’s called your canary in the coal mine.

Named after the birds that miners used to detect lethal gases, it’s the behavior that serves as a leading indicator of trouble in a wholesaler’s practice.

And to the many wholesalers that grapple with organization, here is what I have found to be your canary in the coal mine:

You are constantly behind on your expense and call reporting.

This serves as a leading indicator of these additional issues caused by lack of organization:

• Your calendar is not as full, as far enough in advance, as you’d like;
• Your travel arrangements are made last minute, driving up costs;
• Your literature orders are placed late and frequently sent via expedited delivery;
• Your coordination with your internal partner (roles and responsibilities) is poorly defined;
• Your home office (and your trunk) is a mess!

Additionally, all of these issues serve to occupy valuable real estate in your brain.

After all, if your mind is busy spinning on all these undone or poorly executed items, there’s not enough free space to truly create, innovate, and excel.