When we’re experiencing an uncomfortable legal or financial situation, and we know that we need help, sometimes we resist paying that lawyer or accountant or bookkeeper, because we don’t want to spend the money or we think that we should be able to figure it all out ourselves.

If you’re in that situation right now, let me ask you, how many hours have you wasted so far on that problem? How much has it distracted you from your real work? And how much sleep have you lost, worrying about it?

Now compare that to the clarity and confidence that even an hour with an expert could give you. Imagine how it could cut through the haze, put you back on an even keel, and give you your life back.

So if you need to get your numbers figured out, invest in a bookkeeper or accountant to help you. Get caught up so that you can start moving forward again.

If there’s a sticky situation in your personal or business partnership and you need some clarity about your rights, hire a big-dog lawyer for a one-hour consult.

You may not even have to use the lawyer beyond that, because, often, just gaining the confidence of knowing where you stand can be enough to shift the entire dynamic.