As a business owner you hear it all the time, “You can do this, just put your head down and get the work done.”

So, you work hard and stay as present as possible, yet you take a misstep and get clobbered with the unexpected.

Your website goes down, mistakes with bookkeeping happen, or time lines that were underestimated leave you way, way behind.

And these unexpected turns have you questioning if you should even be in business.

Before you know it, you’re left frustrated and depleted, looking over your shoulder and wondering when your going to be blindsided into the next ditch.

Running with Bulls

In 1992, I attended the nine-day Festival of San Fermin in Pamplona, Spain and embarked on the crazy adventure of running with the bulls.

Along with my Dad, I showed up in the cobbled streets, where six huge bulls were about to begin running toward us through a blocked off maze of town streets that wound 826 meters to the main bullfight arena.

Packed like sardines, we were in a swarm of fear and excitement. I was taking deep breaths and trying to not freak out.

My dad, wiser than me, started asking the people around us one simple question, “Have you done this before?”

After asking about ten clueless people from various countries around the world, he found a Spaniard named Pedro.

Pedro explained to us that a very loud cannon would fire and startle the bulls, but also shock the people around us.

“It is not the bulls you need to worry about,” he said, “but the pushing, shoving, and terrified people who are trying to run on cobblestone ground. Put your hands in front of you and to brace yourself until the crowd thins out. You will avoid being trampled.”

And just as Pedro predicted, the cannon fired, the people panicked and with my hands braced outward and people stumbling down the road, my dad and I made it safely out of the pack and into the arena without injury.

Being in business can be like running with the bulls.  Your heart is pumping, your adrenaline is coursing, and you’re fully alive.

Asking for Help Is a Real Need in Business

It’s also true that without asking for help you may end up getting trampled in the business world.

When thinking about asking for help, many business owners come up against the taught belief that if you can’t do it on your own, then you shouldn’t do it at all.

Another one is that if you ask for help, you’ll owe the other guy if they say yes.

However, at the same time, the number one need that all human beings have is to be able to contribute their advice or wisdom to others when asked.

This means that by asking for help you are allowing others to make a difference in their lives as well as yours.

Keys to Being in Business without Getting Trampled

• You don’t have to do business alone. It may be helpful to participate in a MasterMind Team or consider joining a business community like The Business Oasis.

• Take some time sitting with the Divine and remember that many people would like to know how they can help you.

• Take a bold step and list out the people you admire in business. Give one of them a call and ask them to share big, unforeseen mistakes they see people making in business.