We all have important things to do in our lives, both in our business and our personal lives. Some of these things are very important to us, like renewing a business license, getting exercise or visiting a sick relative/friend. And some things are much less important, but much more desirable, such as going to a sporting event or binge-watching our favorite Netflix show. Unfortunately, human nature often leads us down the less important path.
“I’ve got plenty of time.”
Those words pass our lips all too often. We always think that we’ve got more time to get things done.
“I’m too busy right now.”
“I don’t have time for that.”
“I’ve got better things to do.”
We all have a choice to make. Do we choose to do what’s right or what’s ‘right now?’ Do we choose what we know needs to get done, or do we choose to put it off until later and go have fun?
Owning a business is a lot like being a mature adult. There are important decisions to be made, and those decisions will (often) have an impact on our success and the success of those around us.
Unfortunately, being mature is difficult.
It’s no fun working on our responsibilities while everyone else is off having fun. We’d all rather be eating pizza and watching television than working on that proposal, or seeding a territory, or finishing up that continuing education.
We’d all rather be entertained.
But, if you think about it, that’s the key to success, isn’t it? It’s the reason why so few people achieve their goals. It’s because, when faced with that difficult decision, most of us are going to choose to have fun. Most of us aren’t willing to put in the extra work. Most of us aren’t going to do the work until the last minute, and then we’ll do the bare minimum we need to get by.
We’ll deliver just enough information; do just enough homework; take just enough continuing education hours to get by. And yet, we can’t understand why we are just getting by in our lives; why we are just making it in our business.
The old axiom about being your own worst enemy still rings true today. Unfortunately, we’re all too often blind to this fact. We look elsewhere, searching for the answer to why we can’t make it; why we can’t get over the hump.
“If I could only figure out what’s holding me back.”
Stop looking around. Stop denying the obvious. Start accepting the facts. Start accepting responsibility.
Think about it. If we don’t do it, it’s not going to get done.
It’s my business. I need to start acting like it.
We have met the enemy, and he is us.
Walt Kelly
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Thanks, Joe
