BLIND SPOT WISDOM

Adam T. Hurd
Jul 5
2 min read

THE SIMPLE NEWSLETTER - ISSUE #027

In this edition, I’m reflecting on something we all have—but rarely acknowledge: blind spots. Just like in our actual vision, they exist in our lives and businesses, quietly hiding problems until it’s too late. I’ll share why recognizing and covering those unseen gaps can mean the difference between running your business with confidence or constantly bracing for impact.

ADAM'S THOUGHT

The reason it’s called a blind spot is because you can’t see it.

To understand blind spots in life and business, let's first explore the concept through the human eye. Imagine taking a piece of paper and drawing the number one with the number two about an inch away. If you cover one eye, you can see both numbers on the page. But as you move the paper closer, suddenly, one number will vanish. Why? Because there’s an actual blind spot in your eye where blood vessels run through the retina, blocking your vision in that spot.

You don’t notice this in everyday life because your right eye covers your left eye’s blind spot, and vice versa. This built-in coverage keeps you from being aware of the limitation.

ADAM'S LESSON

Whether it’s our vision, awareness of life, or understanding of our businesses, we need coverage.

This blind spot issue is a common challenge, especially for newer business owners (what I like to call "accidental CEOs"). They’re grinding, fully focused, doing all the right things. Then, bam! Something unexpected hits them. A cash flow crisis, a system breakdown, a delivery failure, a surprise IRS bill, not enough time with family, or even weight gain. These kinds of problems often blindside us because they’re lurking in the "blind spot" we can’t see.

This is why having someone else cover your blind spots is critical. Whether it’s a partner, friend, coach, mentor, or advisor, you need someone to "watch your six," as they say in the military.

Here’s the catch-22. When you’re giving your all to your business, you feel like you’re doing the right thing. But without someone to flag what you can’t see, those hidden issues will appear out of nowhere. On the flip side, you don’t want to burn yourself out by being hypervigilant, worrying about everything that could go wrong.

I’ve noticed three main reasons some entrepreneurs resist finding help to cover their blind spots, especially in the beginning:

Cost: They assume hiring help will be expensive, but there are numerous affordable solutions out there.
Fear of losing control: They worry that involving someone else means their project could be changed or even stolen.
Reluctance to appear vulnerable: Many think they have to know everything and fear looking foolish if they admit they don’t. But here’s the truth—that’s where the real learning and growth begin.

It’s not an option to ignore your blind spots. You may think you can operate without help, but inevitably, something will catch you off guard. Wouldn’t it be better to have coverage—to drive this car you call a business with both eyes wide open?