New Year, New You.
Every January we make New Year’s resolutions. The most common resolutions are personal. Lose weight, quit smoking, exercise more, but we have resolutions in business too – we just call them “plans”.
Wouldn’t it be fantastic if we could think it, believe it, say it out loud and the stuff we want to change, just happened? But we know real life is different. Although, we all start out with the best intentions, and we can stick with the regime for a while, according to statistics 80% of all New Year’s resolutions will already have failed by the end of the February. Are you anymore successful achieving your business plans?
Being a business owner gives you a sense of freedom and empowerment, but it also allows you to build something from the beginning and watch it grow. That said, any success you have rarely comes by accident. It always involves some tough decisions and in most cases, changes to your existing behavior. After all, a resolution is just a decision to do something different, to make a positive change.
To be successful your business plan has to be aligned with what you really want, not just what you think you want!
The reason for this is that when things get tough it’s too easy to give up if the goal you are aiming for is just a “nice-to-have” rather than an imperative.
So a large element of your business plan has to be accountability, because accountability IS SUCCESS. Every successful business owner or manager will tell you that.
You can take online classes, attend seminars, workshops, and webinars, you can make all kinds of plans, you can even set yourself goals and, yes, write them down on paper, but this will not help you to stay on course. What will help you is being accountable to someone other than yourself (or your spouse – because that doesn’t work either).
Now I know what you are thinking. You are already accountable. To your customers, suppliers, family, friends, colleagues and the list goes on and on, but this list is usually about getting things done; not making things happen. So the question remains “are you accountable to someone that will help you grow your business?” If the answer is “no” or you “don’t know” then you need to do something about it. I honestly believe that you can be more successful (assuming that is what you want) if you have accountability in your life. Finding a mentor, or engaging a coach (I know a good one!) is a wise decision, because being accountable is the only way you will get results.
Unfortunately, for so many of us the fear of being judged keeps us from taking a shot at our most ambitious dreams. But successful entrepreneurs don’t worry about pleasing everyone. They are driven and self-motivated and it is this “never give up” attitude that is an essential quality of a successful entrepreneur. But it’s also true that many “successful” entrepreneurs have full bank accounts and empty personal lives, primarily because they are so driven – so just be careful what you wish for!
Another thing that will determine your success is how much you are willing to sacrifice. Successful people know that in order to achieve long-term success they need to give up on many short-term gratifications and pleasures. Winston Churchill once said, “Success always demands a greater effort.” Time is your most valuable asset, and no matter what you’re trying to accomplish, or how successful you want to be, you’ll have to give up something else in order to make it happen.
I have two Croatian friends who gave over their 20’s and early 30’s to medical study, in order to become a successful neurologist and pain management doctor respectively. If you really want success you have to be prepared to say ‘no’ to; toxic people; no to being uninspired; no to being a follower; no to impatience; no to being comfortable, no to TV and social media, and you can also drop the theory that you can control everything.
Everyone grows at their own pace, but it isn’t necessary to give up your entire 20’s or 30’s to become a successful entrepreneur, particularly if you set your goals and surround yourself with the right people. So make your plans and then get yourself an accountability partner. Make sure 2019 is a better year for you and your business than last year.
If you do not have a mentor or an accountability partner, give us a call on (440) 385-6737. We are here for you and want to help you succeed!