ALL successful people understand that it’s just a matter of time before they make it big.
Today, I’m going to talk about a couple of problems that are closely linked. Burn-out and burn-up. Just read the descriptions below and see if you don’t recognize yourself or someone you know…
Burn-Outs
Burn-Outs are short on courage and persistence. They expect to have a strong, healthy business up and running within 3-6 months…and then they quit if it doesn’t happen right away.
When they hit that big, discouraging bump in the road, instead of driving through it, they’re off to the “next big thing.” And when that doesn’t work out, they’re on to the next big thing, then the next, and the next.
Their core problem?
They never stick with the process long enough to see a return on their effort and investment.
As a result, they never succeed.
The solution?
Sincerely ask yourself if you are in it for the long haul. If not, then STOP NOW.
Realize that success never happens overnight, but is the result of deliberate and incremental steps forward. You’re going to have to pay your dues. Be patient. Be persistent. And when things get difficult–that’s when you kick it into overdrive.
Burn-Up’s
And how about Burn-Out’s counterpart? One that’s almost as common as the first: Burn-Up.
Running recklessly, ferociously, and in every direction when you start…and never getting anywhere as a result.
As opposed to Burn-Outs, who never make much effort, Burn-Ups work their guts out for the first few months of the start-up phase. But inevitably they run out of working capital and go down in flames.
It’s because they plan poorly and execute haphazardly. Too much energy is going into too many directions and important foundational milestones are not being achieved.
Look at it this way. If you were going to climb Mount Everest, you’d make sure you had everything you need to have a successful ascension and descent and come back in one piece. Right?
That’s because if your life was on the line, you’d take extra care to plan…and plan WELL.
It’s the same thing in running a business–to win, you need a solid strategic plan to establish momentum, and then keep it rolling month after month.
If you don’t have that, you’re risking your “business life” every single day.
The solution?
Pace yourself with a well-crafted plan. Identify what you need to do to reach your milestones and become determined to follow through on your tasks every day.
Of course, planning can be difficult when you’re not sure what to do–and, in fact, that insecurity is part of the panic that fuels Burn-Up in the first place.