The Value of a Fresh Perspective
- Quinten Taljaard
- Oct 2
- 2 min read
Entrepreneurs are often so close to their business that they see every detail but miss the bigger picture. They know the numbers, the contracts, the staff issues, the day-to-day grind — but familiarity can narrow vision. Sometimes the most valuable thing a leader can do is to step back and see the company through a fresh set of eyes.
Why Perspective Matters
A fresh perspective is not about replacing your expertise. It is about reframing what you already know. Think of how an artist steps back from the canvas: up close, they see brush strokes and colour. From a distance, they see the composition, the balance, the story.
The same applies to business. Looking at your company from the vantage point of a buyer, a new recruit, or even as if you were joining the business for the first time, reveals strengths and weaknesses that daily involvement can obscure.
Practical Examples
Through a buyer’s eyes: A buyer does not see years of hard work. They see systems, contracts, and the sustainability of profit. Asking, “Would I pay a premium for this business today?” can be sobering — and motivating.
Through a different role: Imagine yourself not as the founder but as a sales manager, a client, or a new director. What would you notice first? What would frustrate you? What would impress you?
Through a change of scenery: Time away — whether a holiday, a secondment, or simply working from a different environment — often clarifies what really matters. Many entrepreneurs have had their best strategic insights after a break.
Lessons From Outside Business
Perspective is valuable in many fields. Athletes review game footage not just to celebrate highlights, but to spot blind spots in their play. Musicians listen to recordings of their performances to hear what the audience hears, not what they felt on stage. In architecture, designs are tested in multiple environments — light, shadow, scale — before they are built. Each practice is built on the same principle: seeing the familiar with fresh eyes.
The Payoff
For business owners, gaining perspective can:
Highlight inefficiencies that insiders take for granted.
Surface opportunities hidden in plain sight.
Reveal how outsiders perceive your brand and culture.
Ultimately, increase value by aligning the business with what truly matters to the market.
Closing Thought
Perspective is not about questioning your hard work — it is about amplifying it. By stepping back, stepping aside, or seeing your business as others do, you gain clarity. And clarity, in turn, creates value.
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