Are You Willing to Hear What You Need to Hear?
The question of personal, business, and leadership growth boils down to this: Are you willing to hear what you need to hear to go where you want to go? It sounds simple, but let’s be honest: it’s not. I know because I’ve struggled with it myself. There are times when my pride and emotions make it hard to embrace the truths I need to hear.
Before we examine others, we need to examine ourselves. When I take a hard look at myself, I see strengths but I also see areas that need work. Growth requires being willing to recognize both.
The Hard Truths of Business Growth
This willingness to hear what you need to hear applies not just to personal growth but to businesses as well. Over the past six years in banking, I’ve seen this truth play out again and again: many business owners don’t want to hear what’s necessary to achieve their goals they just want to hear yes.
But here’s the reality: Getting to yes requires preparation, structure, and sometimes unlearning old habits.
The biggest gap I see isn’t a lack of drive, creativity, or operational know-how. It’s a tolerance for a lack of structure and financial acumen. Many entrepreneurs have spent so long just “running the business” that they’ve neglected the foundational infrastructure needed for sustainability.
Let me share a story. Years ago, I had a conversation with my wife’s uncle, who had retired from the Corps of Engineers and was running his own business. I was in my mid-20s, eager to learn, and curious about his plans for the future of his business. But when I asked him, he didn’t have an answer. He was a solo operator, focused on getting through each day, with no systems or processes to ensure the business could thrive beyond him.
That robust business eventually languished and faded not because he lacked hard work or capability, but because he hadn’t built the infrastructure to sustain it.
Hearing What You Need to Hear
When my colleagues and I work with business owners, we focus on telling them what they need to hear not just what they want to hear. If you’re serious about becoming creditworthy, scaling your operations, sustaining your business, or passing it on to the next generation, you must be willing to face some tough truths.
Here’s what every lender needs to know:
- How will the lender get paid back? (Cash flow)
- If cash flow isn’t enough, what’s the backup plan? (Collateral)
- How can we trust your numbers? (Paystubs, audited financial statements, tax returns)
- How much do you owe others? (Debt levels)
- Have you paid your debt in the past? (Character)
At the end of the day, every lender is asking one critical question: How and when am I going to get paid back?
But these questions aren’t just for banks. They’re questions you should be asking yourself. Can you answer them? They’re not just about getting a loan. They’re about your business’s sustainability and its ability to scale.
And here’s my advice: Ask for help before you need it. Don’t wait until you need a loan. Build a relationship with a financial institution now.
The truth is, hearing these questions and tackling them head-on is essential for growth. Stop thinking about it and take action. But let’s do it the right way. Build on a solid foundation.
Because when you come my way, I’m not going to tell you what you want to hear. I’m going to tell you what you need to hear. Whether it’s about cash flow, collateral, or your ability to produce accurate financial statements, the willingness to confront these challenges can be the difference between a business that merely survives and one that thrives.
The Lesson of Listening
The only way I’ve grown personally, professionally, and as a leader is by listening to the truths I didn’t want to hear.
So, let me ask you again: Are you willing to hear what you need to hear to go where you want to go?
Whether it’s in your personal life, your business, or your leadership journey, success begins with the hard conversations we often avoid. It starts with hearing what’s necessary and then doing what’s needed.
It Matters Where You Bank®
Originally published in the St. Louis Business Journal in September of 2026 by Orvin T. Kimbrough, Chairman and CEO at Midwest BankCentre.