As an avid Crosfitter I am regularly striving for more. More weight, more repetitions of a specific movement, and more time cut from a workout. The longer I Crossfit, the more I understand my body and what’s it’s current limitations are. If I try for more than I am able at that time, I ruin the chances of efficiently doing what my current ability will allow. Sometimes failure is great in Crossfit, but pushing myself into a bad “zone” isn’t actually good for my body and may do damage instead of good. I have long term goals and if I am going to achieve them, I need to pace my progress for optimal gains. But surely, this business post isn’t about Crossfit.
Business owners and sales people alike want more. More more clients, more money, or maybe more time at home with their family. But just like Crossfit, every business professional must know their limitations. If you try and do more than you are physically (or mentally) able, you will most likely experience failure and potential burnout. Failure isn’t always a bad thing, just ask Barbara Corcoran from Shark Tank (the best 15 minutes on failure, seriously!). But what happens when failure gets the best of you and you don’t know how to overcome it? I would like to give you a few tips so you can pace yourself in your business, be as efficient as possible, and achieve whatever your “more” may be. Many of these are better accomplished with a second set of eyes and ears, someone like a mentor or coach. Oh, and make sure you write them down.
- Determine your goals, and set realistic milestones. These may be 3 month, 6 month, 1 year, etc.
- Identify your strengths and weaknesses. Both are necessary!
- Identify people in your life (family, friends, colleagues, and partners) that can help you with your weakness. These may be people that can teach and train you, or people that can fulfill the needs themselves.
- Determine the amount of time you are able to spend on your business efforts. Be sure to include time for surprises (yup, they will come).
- Estimate your points of failure (based upon your weakness).
The biggest mistakes you can make are trying to take on too much volume (time) or trying to do what you are not able (expertise). Either of these will lead to failure of the wrong kind (yes there is good failure). Know your capabilities, pace yourself, and then go out there and crush your goals!
If you need help with the above tips, I would be honored to support you. I can offer a one hour session by phone for a very small fee, and a bit more if you would like to meet in person. Just email me to set something up. But don’t procrastinate as this could get you on the track you have been hoping for!