Do you have a big dream? What is it? Exactly. Can you articulate it right now in great detail? How does it make you feel when you see your vision in black and white? Pretty awesome I bet, excited and raring to go.
Now let me ask you how do you feel when you think about all the work it’s going to take to bring your vision to fruition? Do you suddenly feel scared or overwhelmed wondering how the heck you are going to get from where you are now to where you want to be?
The next time someone asks you what you do, say “Whatever it takes.”- Lewis Howes.
I’m going to let you in on a little secret, if you want to achieve anything great, you have to learn to love the pain. Now before you shoot darts at me, let me explain.
Entrepreneurship is a battle zone. There are challenges at every corner AND it is the most exhilarating ride of your life. If you only love the highs, you are going to come down crashing, hard, and more than likely quit before you get to paradise. You have to learn to embrace the lows for what they will DO for you in the long run.
Even though I’m not an athlete or in stellar shape, I’m big into exercising. I go at least 5 times a week to the gym. I’m up every morning at 5:00 am and on the treadmill or at the weights by 5:30 am. Do I love getting up in the middle of January when it’s 10 degrees outside and the sky is black? Well…. actually, I don’t mind it. I know I am going to feel way better about my day if I go. I know in an hour, I’m going to be on a runner’s high or feeling tight and pumped after doing double sets.
But it’s not just the “what I’ll get afterwards” that makes me feel good. It makes me feel good to know I am doing whatever it takes to get what I want. When I am sweating, out of breath and my legs are burning, I know I am doing the work that needs to be done.
If staying in shape were easy, everyone would be thin and fit, but it takes work. And if it were easy to build a successful, profitable, meaningful business, everyone would be doing that too. However, it IS possible. There can be a pot of gold at the end of your rainbow, you just have have to keep at it.
You may be thinking, “I am already doing whatever it takes and I’m still not where I want to be.” Well then, I’m sorry to say, you’re are not doing whatever it takes. I’m not implying you are not working hard, I’m sure you are, but unless you’ve achieved your goal already, what you’re doing either isn’t working or it isn’t working yet. There may be more you have to do.
Before you throw in the towel, here are some tips to keep you on track for success:
1. Be willing to pivot: Sometimes all you need to break-through is a 15 degree shift. Maybe you are marketing to all women entrepreneurs and what you need to try is marketing to women CPA’s or women chiropractors instead. You might just need a slight tweak to land in your sweet spot.
2. Fail fast: There’s a great book called “Fail Fast, Fail Often” that talks about taking risks and being willing to fail to learn. Be willing to try things and look at them as experiments. All too often we entrepreneurs put all our emotional eggs in one basket. We invest our self-esteem and profits in one launch and if it doesn’t go as planned, suddenly we’re a failure. Instead, see it as knocking down a hurdle and move on to the next thing.
3. Get dirty: You have to put some skin in the game. You can’t go all in and keep your party dress clean. You have to be willing to be bold and put yourself out there. Risk saying the wrong thing, getting turned down or getting criticized. Who cares? Are you going to let an insult stop you! If so, you may as well resign yourself to a very quiet life.
4. Hustle your buns off: If you are not where you want to be now, do more. Produce more, interact more, work more, connect more. Go the extra mile. It may sound cliche, but you may have to step up your game more that you thought you would. I remember a hike I did many years ago in Italy. If I had known how difficult it would be when we started, I probably would have bailed, but I’m so glad I pushed myself. The reward was magnificent vistas of the Mediterranean sea dappled with sunlight and pink beach umbrellas on the beach below. Hang in there and you will be rewarded too.
Sometimes we need a little kick in the pants to reignite our flame, but at the end of the day, don’t you want to know you gave it your best? You deserve a brilliant life and if you work hard, you can have it. Do whatever it takes.
Your feedback is music to my ears!
Where do you need to step up your game to create the success you want?
Post your answers below in the comments or find me on Facebook.
If you would like to use this article on your website or ezine, feel free! Just be sure to include the following:
Heather Poduska is a brand strategist, image consultant, business coach and opera singer who helps entrepreneurs and small business owners create client attractive brands, polished brand images and brand communication strategies to increase their visibility and impact in the marketplace and grow their businesses.
Great reminders!!! I’ve been back at running too and it feels great! I get up first thing as well before I can make up any excuses and it’s so nice to get it out of the way first thing and know that I have the rest of my day clear to do other things. 🙂