Two years ago, I hired a structural engineer…

And had no idea what I was doing...

I feel like I have a lot of information in my head. Some of it is pretty useful. Lots of it not relevant. I can remember song lyrics but not my three digit number on the back of my debit card - I have to double check it at least three times…

I wonder how my kids will view their schooling in years to come. Perhaps they will wish they had more practical advice; mortgages, taxes, what happens when your car breaks down, how to sort the boiler when you can’t get hot water… etc

In 2022, when we were trying to move house, one of the obstacles between us and actually living in our dream house was the question of whether it was structurally sound. It is Edwardian and in a conservation area; who knew what could be lurking.

I had never hired a structural engineer before. I wasn’t really sure what I was looking for or what the right choice was.

When I don’t know things, I have to admit; I find it frustrating…because I like to know all the things(!), but I know that is impossible.

Sometimes when we are unfamiliar with a new situation, it can freeze us. We don’t know what to do, so we do nothing.

That is when I have to have a word with myself; because staying stuck prevents me from moving forward.

On this occasion, I needed to figure it out. If I didn’t we couldn’t progress with the move and I wasn’t going to let my pride or lack of knowledge stand in my way.

The first thing I did was to google. It turns out there are many structural engineers out there. Seriously, they are everywhere :) Who knew?!

I began to trawl through the options. As a novice, I wanted information. I wanted to know what they did and if it was what I needed.

Many were so jargon heavy. Sturdy, well insulated, fire compliant Internet playgrounds for structural engineers to meet structural engineers to enjoy each others’ company.

So often, so quickly, I was put off because I was out of my depth. The information confused me, I felt stifled and immediately moved on.

I quickly came to the conclusion that there must be other people like me. People who only plan on using these services a handful of times in their lives (perhaps naive thinking in a 1900s house :)) therefore require simplicity like me.

That was it. I was knee deep in google reviews. That’s how I ultimately made my decision. I also read from the unofficial book of life that always suggests you get three quotes, speak to the person, see how your gut and your bank balance responds and then make a discerning decision.

The decision paid off. The appointment was made and paid for and the service was delivered above and beyond.

I paid it forward and left a review.

‘We were really thrilled with our choice. The process was seamless; Tyler really had a sense of what we were looking for and was so informative on the phone. The admin of booking and payment was so straightforward. Nathanael was meticulous; he kindly scheduled two phone calls to go through all the details and no daft question was too daft. Would highly recommend.’

I got an email today to say the review had been viewed 3000 times in 11 months. Now clearly I am not taking credit for someone’s business but maybe 5 minutes of my time helped in some way. I hope so, I meant every word. That step was a crucial step in the process.

In these times, we all want reassurance. To know that we are making sound decisions that provide the result we wish.

It was also a great reminder that individuals can really help small businesses. You can easily share the love for your local coffee house, pub or hidden gem. Maybe you had excellent service. Maybe there was an element of surprise; something you were unfamiliar with ended up being ok in the end.

So what about you and your business/brand. What can you take away from this?

There were so many lessons in this process.

Simplicity. As someone who was unclear, I looked for clarity, ease and transparency. I opted for someone who spoke to me in a way that it was absolutely ok to not have a clue.

Stating what you do. If it is obvious, it will be tricky to sell. Be clear. Be concise. Be decisive.

Sharing your information in a way that informs someone who may be unfamiliar with your industry. Save in jokes and industry jargon for Christmas parties.

Delivering excellence. Always. Don’t hold back.

Paying it forward. Celebrate excellent customer service, share the love.

Bonus take away. Look at actions you can take that will support your business again and again… once you add something into google reviews, it will likely stay for a while.

Building on the trust and integrity you have already gained; maybe your current customers/clients can tell their pals.

As always I would love to hear what came up for you…

If you are unclear about your ideal clients, check out Your Digital Disco