Finding Balance in Business

As I crossed my 55th year on this planet in September, I started to have a lot of “ah-ha” moments…So let’s begin with a question: “Have you ever noticed that many times our journey as Entrepreneurs leaves us feeling like we’re on a bumpy and unstable rollercoaster? ??”

One minute, we’re on top of the world…Riding the high of closing a BIG sale or celebrating the most profitable month yet.

The next minute…

Crash and burn.

Suddenly, we’re dealing with a critical team member quitting without notice, or our go-to marketing strategy seems to be losing steam. Maybe the pipeline that looked so healthy has started to dry up.

Before you know it, our high disappears and we’re right back at the drawing board trying to get the business back to where it once was.

It may be worth noting that if life and business adhere to the same laws that apply to the universe, then it stands to reason that balance—Equilibrium—is the natural order of things.

For every skyrocketing success, there might be something that brings us down to maintain that cosmic balance (otherwise known as Newton’s 3rd Law). But what if we could negotiate those terms? What if we didn't always need to experience harsh setbacks for every victory?

Here’s the good news: You DON’T have to pay for every win with a loss.

Here’s how…

Let's start with intention. In the world of success, we often hear about people discussing vision boards and five-year plans, but how often do Entrepreneurs sit down and truly examine what they want out of life and business? If you say, "I want a $40 million revenue stream," that's great. And I hear things like this a lot… BUT…Why do you want it?

• Is it to be able to take care of your family without worry?
• To contribute to causes that mean something to you?
• To create a legacy?

Your "why" informs your "how," and a well-defined why can often prevent you from experiencing those devastating lows (AKA the crash).?

You also have to look at the downsides to what could happen if you achieve your goals…Or ask yourself what are the negatives to the success we just experienced.??

Taught by Dr. Alok Trevedi, this neuroscience has been proven to work as he says because you're already operating from a space of balance.?

You're not just amassing wealth for the sake of it; you're creating abundance to fuel passion while thinking about both sides of the equation.?

The energy you expend doesn't leave a vacuum in its wake, needing to be filled by a contrasting, negative experience.

Instead, it creates a cycle focused on true wealth, ? which in turn encourages more true wealth, and so on.

Equilibrium achieved. ?

Now let's talk about pacing.?

Life isn't a sprint; it's a marathon.?

If you've set the lofty goal of building a multi-million-dollar company, that doesn't mean you need to hit seven figures in the first year (although I hear that number so many times).

It is important to realize that growing too fast can be a BAD thing. A prime example of this is what happened to the tech startup, Theranos.?

Led by Elizabeth Holmes, Theranos promised to revolutionize the medical testing industry with the Nanotainer: A device that could quickly perform multiple tests with just a few drops of blood. ??

Investors were intrigued by the vision and potential; billions were poured into the company, and it skyrocketed to a valuation of $9 billion+ at its peak.

However, the rapid growth and immense pressure to deliver results led to shortcuts, deception, and ultimately, a colossal FAILURE.?

Not only was the technology found to be fraudulent, but the speed at which the company grew didn't allow for adequate governance or quality checks.

And I know that Holmes was a fraud…But what I don’t know is if that was her intention to begin with.? In the end, though, she hurt a lot of people and made thousands of investors lose a ton of money.

That brings me to my point…In order to avoid these highs followed by immediate lows, we want to operate with a laser-like focus on what we genuinely want to achieve, along with realizing what the downsides are if we achieve it.?

For instance, I would much rather take on just one IDEAL client each month who perfectly aligns with our vision and values, rather than more clients who might not be an ideal fit.?

Why?

Because the latter can lead to unneeded stress and, ultimately, the dreaded crash after the high as they won’t be destined to stay with us for a long period of time. It might sound less glamorous or “sexy,” but this methodical, steady approach not only makes your business more manageable, it also allows you the bandwidth to handle obstacles that may pop up, thereby reducing those Newtonian crashes.

And let’s remember: Life is a balancing act.

You can absolutely pour 110% of your energy into your work, but there's no rule, (unlike some of the new POP Culture business guru’s advice), saying you have to sacrifice EVERYTHING else to become successful. I’ve seen Entrepreneurs, including myself, miss their kids’ ballet recitals or soccer games for “just another hour (or five) at the computer.”???

Fast forward a decade or two when your kids are all grown up, and you’d give anything to go back and make a different choice. (Trust me…I’ve been there).

So, as we're gearing up for an amazing 2024, let's aim for growth—Balanced, intentional, joy-filled growth.

Remember: It's not just about skyrocketing revenue and profits; it’s about skyrocketing a life well-lived and a business that supports it through standing the test of time.

To your success,

David

P.S. If you want to double your business in the next 6-12 months, let's chat. Click here and apply for a free 45 min strategy consultation ($497 Value!)