A Journey of Surprising Misassumptions

Recently, in the GrowthDay app from @BrendonBurchard, I was prompted with the following query inside the journal function:

One recent time when my assumptions about something were wrong was... What I learned from that experience was...

My answers could help you avoid a lot of future headache

Every entrepreneur encounters unexpected twists on the road to success. One recent time when my assumptions about something were entirely off track stands as a testament to this truth.

The Big Idea:

Several years ago, I dove headfirst into a high-ticket, brick-and-mortar venture—an assisted living community. At first glance, it seemed straightforward: remodel the building, set up operations, and then expand to more sites across the Austin Metro area. I assumed that once the initial hard work was done, the process would be smooth sailing with minimal intervention from me. Little did I know, reality had a different lesson in store.

Goals and desires blocked by opposition:

The remodeling of the building—a task I thought would take eight months—ended up consuming nearly two years. I found myself in the unenviable position of having to fire numerous contractors along the way. This initial misstep was just the beginning.

Once the doors of the community opened, I anticipated that hiring an operations person would allow me to delegate responsibilities and focus on scaling the business. However, the reality was much more complex. Over four years, I cycled through five different managers because none could encompass the holistic, owner-minded approach the role demanded. I also probably expected too much and trained them too haphazardly for success.

Without knowing it, like Bill Murray as Phil Conners in "Groundhog Day", I got stuck repeating THE ORDEAL STAGE found in movies (the ones that stick with us, anyway).

Life imitates art:

Had I known to apply my own storytelling frameworks to my life during that "season", I might have succeeded in attaining my goals much faster. Why not be the protagonist of your own movie?

Here are the elements of a complete, transformational story (according to my FableSpark System):

• STATUS QUO: your current state where you feel stuck or uninspired. Life just isn't as spicy as you had hoped.
• A powerful INCITING INCIDENT: the call to adventure. In my case, my wife's father needing senior care with us knowing nothing about it.
• MATERIAL GOAL: a task out in the big wide world that promises adventure.
• WOUND: a flaw or gap that needs to be healed for your growth, maybe even transformation, and fulfillment.
• REFUSAL OF THE CALL: your inner voice chimes in, trying to protect you with fear, saying, "This sounds hard. You don't have enough money, experience, knowledge, or connections to make this work. It won't end well."
• THEMATIC COMPASS: a universal truth worth exploring. In my example, it might be something like "serving a community with all your heart is its own reward".
• THE DRAMATIC MATRIX: the network of characters in this story. If you are the hero, who is your antagonistic person (or industry, organization, etc), and who are the tethers?
• TETHERS: a tether ties the Protagonist and Antagonist together and keeps the flywheel turning, and sets up and fuels conflict between the Protagonist and Antagonist.
• FIRST TURNING POINT: the point of complete commitment, or point of no return, as you enter the new and intriguing world.
• THE ADVENTURE STAGE: the first of obstacles when overcome with tried and true methods you've used before give you the feeling of accomplishment and excitement.
• SECOND TURNING POINT: the moment when the stakes of the adventure become undeniably real, moving you into a series of ordeals you never expected.
• THE ORDEAL STAGE: setbacks and failures that make you question why you chose to take on such a big goal in the first place. Where before, in the adventure stage, you thought you could achieve your goal by being who you've always been, but now, in the ordeal stage, you start to realize you need to become more by healing those flaws and replacing your limiting beliefs. But it's more scary to change than it is to feel the pain from forces set against you throwing up obstacles through opposition.
• THIRD TURNING POINT: your lowest point, where all seems lost. You've exhausted every idea. Your reserves are depleted.
• CLIMAX: this is where the conflict reaches the highest state that's been building over the course of the entire story. This is the big showdown we've been waiting for. Hopefully it ends in triumph.
• FINAL TURNING POINT: and the story wouldn't be complete without the ultimate Crisis Decision test, which happens within the Climax. A good Crisis Decision presents the hero with a choice that is the lesser of two evils, and that chosen lesser evil must be how the Protagonist confronts their Wounding Event and heals their Wound. This is where growth and transformation are to be found.
• RESOLUTION: a re-verification that the lessons learned will not be forgotten.

Through these experiences, I learned vital lessons that reshaped my approach to business:

1. Embrace a Startup Mindset: In the early stages of any business, it's crucial to adopt a flexible, startup mindset. This involves creating systems as needed—essentially building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) approach. The focus isn't on efficiency at this stage, but rather on learning and adapting quickly. As the philosopher William James wisely noted, “The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” In business, choosing adaptability over rigidity can transform challenges into opportunities for growth.
2. Transitioning to Efficiency: Once the foundation is solid, the focus should shift to efficiency. At this mature stage, hiring an operations expert who excels in following established systems and measuring key performance indicators (KPIs) becomes essential. This kind of leadership enables continuous improvement and scalability, aligning with the idea that success often comes from iterative refinement rather than one-time perfection.
3. The Value of a Seasoned Partner: For future ventures that require robust customer fulfillment and support, I realized the wisdom in involving a seasoned operations professional as a partner rather than just an employee. This approach gives them skin in the game, fostering true commitment to the business’s success. It’s a bit contrarian to traditional hiring practices, but having a partner who is as invested as you are can lead to better alignment of vision, dedication, and long-term success.

Action:

If you’re stepping into a similarly complex business terrain, remember that early-stage ventures demand creative problem-solving and a willingness to iterate on the fly. Start small, learn fast, and don’t be afraid to pivot. As you move toward scaling, bring on those who thrive within established systems, and consider partnerships that align incentives. These strategies not only enhance operational efficiency but also cultivate a resilient business culture—a truly philosophical approach to entrepreneurship that echoes the wisdom of learning from failure.

In Conclusion:

In the end, through grit and perseverance, our community gained recognition as one the safest senior living locations with the highest level of care. And once I decided that this business model could not be scaled at the rate I desired, I negotiated a profitable exit with new owners who wanted to continue with the positive changes we had made to the local senior care practices.

This journey reinforced that the path to success is rarely linear. It requires an openness to learn from mistakes, a willingness to adapt, and the foresight to know when to shift gears. With a balanced blend of startup agility and operational precision, and by collaborating with passionate partners, you can navigate future challenges more effectively. Remember, as the Greek philosopher Heraclitus said, "The only constant in life is change." Embrace that change, and let it guide your growth.

Stay curious and keep growing, Friend!

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