Have you heard it before?
Those promises made by businesses that tell you that they are the one-stop solution to all your (financial/mental/social/mechanical/marriage etc) problems. The self-help books that claim that they are the ONLY book you ever need to solve your lagging motivation. The training courses that promote themselves as being THE MOST IMPORTANT training you will ever need.
Yeah, I’m sure you have.
And so have I.
And quite frankly I’m sick of it.
You see, society likes to believe in the existence of a ‘magic bullet’ or a ‘miracle pill’ that will cure all of their problems. Even though common sense tells us that no such thing exists, we keep searching for this elusive grail that will magically make everything good. In a way, we have been wired to want the easy way out. We want our problems fixed and we want them fixed NOW.
Experience has taught me that it is never the case.
I remember picking up a self-help book that claimed to be the only book that I ever needed to build lasting relationships and self-confidence. Then I read another book which approached the subject matter in a different way. Then I read a book on management which covered some of the same material, presented some new ones but still reinforced what I learned from the previous books. With each book I read, I learn different things, even if they are within the same subject matter.
The claim of being the only book worth reading on the subject matter is a false claim. And it is a dangerous one because it doesn’t encourage learning and further reading.
When talking about businesses, I like to look at the finance/accounting industry. There are many ‘one-stop shops’ out there. Businesses that make the claim that they are here to service your every financial need. These are the businesses that will take on any client that comes to them, without considering their level of knowledge, their business industry and their financial background. Any advice you get from them is general at best and misguided at worst.
The same goes for blogs as well. If any blog makes the claim to be the ‘Only blog you will ever need for any subject matter’, best to still read other blogs in the subject area. Better to cross check the information you have received and to learn from other sources as well.
Why is this matter so important to me?
Simply because I know that there are many people that read this blog. Many of them rely on this blog for financial/accounting help and information. And one of the core values of this blog is honesty.
Honesty here means that I don’t share information without cross-checking and referencing it first. I make sure I am willing to stake my reputation on what I write. And most importantly, I don’t ever make any false claims.
And part of being honest means that I will tell you now, that this blog is NOT the only accounting/finance blog you will ever need.
Sure, it’s funny, simple and takes a reasonably lighthearted approach to accounting, entrepreneurship and finance. But it shouldn’t be your only source of financial/accounting information. I acknowledge my own limitations as a solo blogger and there are many others who write better and have more experience than me. So really, you should read them as well. Have a quick search online – see what else is in the market.
I also believe that every client is unique and no two businesses (even those in the same industry) are alike. I don’t believe in a one-size fits all model and if I’m giving general advice, I make sure to clearly state that it IS general advice.
Ultimately, I believe that each and every one of us is responsible for their own learning. We have a duty to ourselves to research different sources of information, learn about different points of view and be taught by different people. It is the wealth of knowledge and information that will help us make better decisions, be it for your business, yourself or your family.
There is no such thing as a one-stop shop to all your problems. So get out there and start shopping around!