I’ve been dealing with a pinched nerve in my neck since October. Well, it was diagnosed in October but I was suffering from the pain for a while before I sought help. And having to seek treatment and change my routine made me think about my clients and how they are impacted by “pain in the neck” problems.
Initially, I tried to ignore my pain, much like my clients do when things are chaotic. I finally decided to deal with my issue because I couldn’t ride my bike without severe pain or numbness down my entire right arm. And my clients engage me for the same reason - they just can’t deal with the pain anymore. The journey to get to a resolution, whether it’s a literal pain in the neck or a figurative one, often includes the same steps.
My first solution was to try a “quick fix” - a massage, thinking it was just a muscle problem. My clients may try to fix their issues by hiring new employees or trying new software, but often it takes an outside opinion before we seek the right fix. Both my massage therapist and a friend convinced me that my problem was bigger than I originally thought and convinced me to seek out professional help for nerve pain. Similarly, my clients are usually referred to me by someone who recognizes their symptoms and encourages them to seek additional help.
We all have to go through the same steps to get better; putting trust in someone else who is brand new to you, having the patience to put in the work to make the change, and also realizing that there are probably multiple issues to address. Physical therapy alone wasn’t enough to fix my nerve pain. I had to take additional steps such as getting a computerized bike fit and considering a new bike altogether. My clients may need not just streamlined operations, but sometimes employee changes, too.
When I was allowed back on my bike (and there were many baby steps before I was allowed outside for only 1 hour), it felt like starting from the first time I rode it. I had to get used to a new position. I had to adjust my body if I felt pain or numbness. And when I started off, I was so excited to be allowed to ride that I pushed too hard and pedaled too fast.
Clients need to take the time to work through their new operations, starting at step 1 and changing the routine. This means following the new procedures to ensure things run better, even if some people still insist on doing it how things have always been done.
It is also necessary to note what works and what doesn’t, so additional improvements can be made. For me, that meant a second visit to the bike fitter and patience with my new routine when all I wanted to do was ride for hours. For my clients, it means revisiting things we’ve already discussed to make sure their new operations work with their goals.
If you’re dealing with a “pain in the neck”, let’s talk about how we can relieve it. Reach out to Beck Insights to be diagnosed correctly: Beck Insights - Get Started.
