Chat from the Chair – Let Me!

I read a really good book recently, no, not my own recently published one that is also really good, but ‘Let Them’ by Mel Robbins. The ‘Let Them Theory’ centres on recognising that you can’t control other people, their choices, or their reactions. By “letting them” do what they’re going to do, you free yourself from the burden of trying to control the uncontrollable and can focus on your own actions and responses.

It has two parts:
– Let them do what they want to do
– Let me focus on my actions.

 

Let Them vs Let Me

This is particularly helpful for many clients I work with in my coaching business, but recent conversations with Stowmarket Chamber members also reminded me that the ‘Let Them Theory’ can equally help us in business. Several business owners have talked to me about how business has been unusually slow for this time of year. The tendency is to try to react to this situation and chase business, make sudden sales changes or overworry about the situation.

Mel Robbins would say to us, ‘Let Them’.

• Let them not visit our premises
• Let them not buy this month.

She would then encourage us to ‘Let Me’:

• Let me focus on my ideal client
• Let me focus on my marketing plan
• Let me develop my sales techniques
• Let me focus on making appointments with customers
• Let me focus on the thing that can affect change.

This approach can also be helpful when dealing with competitors. Maybe a competitor has changed something and seems to be bringing in sales. Let them. You can’t change any of that, so don’t waste energy on it.

Let Me – You focus on what you need to do that helps your business. Don’t waste energy moaning about their increased sales or tactics. Just stay in your lane, focus on your race and do it well. Let me focus on what I need to do to improve sales.

I used to be a runner as a teenager, and one thing I was taught was not to worry about the other athletes and look sideways, which affects your running. Instead, look ahead and run straight. That metaphor helps us see how we need to focus on our business, not be distracted by competitors.

Let Me Develop Myself

One of the ‘Let Me’ that we can do is to develop ourselves. When we ‘let me focus on making myself the best I can be’, we will improve our businesses as a result. Over the last two months, I have come across a great resource that is linked to one of our members. Peter Basford, who heads up Innovation Labs, also heads up ‘Start, build Grow’ that supports starter businesses in Ipswich. They have released some podcasts that are free for all listeners that talk on topics helpful to all companies, not just start-ups.

Do take a listen to them.
– Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/start-build-and-grow/id1739084985
– Spotify Podcasts https://open.spotify.com/show/6NY6INZGY0qffEIaAAqyit?si=0b6287db2bd84ea0

Let Me Make Connections

Of course, Stowmarket Chamber is a key source for helping you to thrive as a business. One of the ‘Let me’ is ‘Let me make new and deep connections to help my business’. Coming up in September, we have three events to help you deepen connections and make new ones.

• Coffee Morning Networking – 5th September – Bishop & Miller Auctioneers
• Late Summer Sizzler BBQ – 10th September – Stowmarket Golf Club
• Suffolk & Stow Chamber Joint Safari Networking – 23rd September – The Mix.

All of these will give you the opportunity to meet new people, get the word out about your business and deepen relationships with members. The Joint event will particularly introduce you to new businesses as wider Suffolk Chamber members join us here in Stowmarket. Lots of good opportunities to ‘Let me’.

I look forward to seeing you at these events and hearing how you are ‘letting me focus on what I need to do’.

For the Future

Chairman Colin Tapscott is always happy to receive any suggestions for what members want to see the Chamber doing in the future. Please send your ideas (and your wish lists) to [email protected]

 

Dates for your diary:

Please check the website in case of any last-minute changes.

Coffee Morning	Late Summer BBQ
Bishop & Miller – Suffolk Uni 19, Charles Industrial Estate Stowmarket, IP14 5AH	Stowmarket Golf Club Lower Road, Onehouse, Stowmarket IP14 3DA
Friday, 5 September 2025	Wednesday, 10 September 2025
10.00 am to 12.30 pm	4.00 pm to 6.00 pm

For more information, contact Keely Taylor by email: [email protected].