Tough Love for Aspiring Entrepreneurs: Are Distractions Ruining Your Success?

A few weeks ago, a young lady asked me to help her with her business plan. I’m currently updating my business plan for 2024, and because I was in such a good mood, I accepted.

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Time: The Most Valuable Asset

Let me be honest: I'm a stickler for my time. As an entrepreneur, it's my most valuable asset. So, when this seemingly young go-getter asked for help with her business plan, I was happy to offer a hand, despite my busy schedule. But what happened next left me frustrated and, frankly, concerned. You see, when I started my business, I wanted help from business executives who were probably also stingy with their time and got rejected nearly all the time.

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I had to depend on books, programs, and podcasts for mentorship. So, when someone asks for my help in their business, I see it as an opportunity to be there for others, even though I never really had the same type of help.

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I sent her a message letting her know I would come into some free time on Wednesday this week for two hours between 9 and 11 a.m. She agrees to it, and the meeting is set.

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Remember the saying, "Give someone an inch, and they'll take a mile"? Well, this young lady took a light year. Wednesday comes, and I get a casual WhatsApp from her at 8:48 AM saying she expects to be there by 9:30 AM and if that was okay. I responded by letting her know that her 2-hour meeting had just been cut short by 30 minutes.

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You want to guess what time this young lady showed up?

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She showed up at 10:15 a.m. That is 1 hour, 15 minutes late. I’m not one of those who is quick to call out Gen Z, even though I’m 100 percent tempted to. I strongly believe serious people are serious people, regardless of whether they’re Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, or Millennials. But let's be real: punctuality and focus are universal currencies, regardless of age. And let's just say that this aspiring entrepreneur wasn't trading in either.

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She walks in with her prepared excuse, which I paid absolutely zero mind to while I asked her to sit. I informed her that she only had 45 minutes left, which obviously was not adequate to cover all aspects of her business plan. Needless to say, she got the rushed version of the packed value I had for her. Not my fault!

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Distraction: The Silent Killer of Success

What was actually really interesting was that while I went through the bones of her business plan, her thumbs danced across the screen, flitting between business plan notes and, wait for it, celebrity Snapchat subscriptions. Call me old-fashioned, but that kind of multitasking screams disrespect, not dedication. It made me wonder, “Why does this lady hate herself so much?”

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I don’t stand to gain anything, but she does, and in the 45 minutes she had left, she still wasn’t focused. The addiction to scrolling was still at the top of her mind, even in my presence.

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It really points out the reason why so many businesses fail. I mean, she could not give her full attention for just 45 minutes.

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Look, I'm not a fortune teller, but here's the harsh reality: a healthy food business (or any business for that matter) won't thrive on scattered attention and a "whatever" attitude. Success demands laser focus, the kind that can't be swayed by fleeting notifications or the latest online drama.

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I want you to give me your honest opinion. Do you think this lady can run this healthy food business successfully with such a mindset and attitude?

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Any serious person would know that it's dead-on arrival. Now, I’m not a prophet of doom, but from what I know about the qualities and character a business leader must possess to run a successful business, any slacking at all means failure will be staring you in the face.

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The Harsh Reality of Entrepreneurship

The harsh reality of business is that...?

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Even the most hard-working entrepreneurs find it hard to succeed.

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Even the most determined entrepreneurs find it hard to succeed.

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Even the most resilient entrepreneurs find it hard to succeed.

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So, imagine someone lacking those very ingredients?. Of course, miracles do happen and people do turn a good leaf, but the chances are closer to zero without possessing the key success ingredients. You know it, and I know it—it’s a recipe for disaster, not dominance.

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Which makes me wonder why people truly hate themselves so much.

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Now, here's the part where I don't want you to think I'm just throwing shade. This experience got me thinking: Why do we sometimes sabotage our own success? Is it self-doubt? Fear? Or is it simply a lack of self-awareness?

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According to Meriam Webster, there are two definitions of the word hate, which are:

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1. to feel extreme enmity toward; to regard with active hostility. He harbors intense animosity towards his country's adversaries.

2. to have a strong aversion to: find very distasteful.

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When most people think about the word "hate,” their minds go to definition 1, which means to regard someone else with active hostility. So, when I ask the question, “Why do you hate yourself so much?” They give me this weird look like, “This Chris guy is out of his mind.”

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But am I really out of my mind when I ask people why they hate themselves?

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Let’s focus on definition 2, which means to find something or someone very distasteful. If you know that in order to be successful, you need to read books, but you don’t do it, or you come up with 3,000 excuses as to why you don’t have the time, don’t you think that you are hating yourself? Because if you truly love yourself, you will read the books.

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Recognizing Signs of Self-Hate

Now, I'm not saying you actively hate yourself. But if you're constantly putting off important tasks, making excuses, and prioritizing distractions over your dreams, isn't that a form of self-neglect? A subtle way of saying, "Meh, I don't deserve success anyway"?

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Let me ask you this:

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If you have kids and you come home from work and see your kids playing with knives all in the name of a joke, they are either getting a verbal or physical spanking.

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Why?

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Because you know someone will get hurt for sure. It doesn’t take you to become a rocket scientist to figure that out.

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Guess what?

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The same goes for your success.

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You’re not going to be successful if you spend your weekends partying.

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You’re not going to be successful if you don’t have success ingredients like integrity, discipline, a growth mindset, consistency, etc.

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Embracing Discipline: The Path to Success

Think about it. Skipping that crucial industry conference because you're "too busy"? That's self-hate. Procrastinating on writing your business plan because you'd rather scroll through social media? Self-hate. Showing up late to meetings could make or break your venture. You get the picture.

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The sad part is that you already know this, but there is just something in you that says, “Whatever.”

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And it is that attitude that will ensure you remain in the same place with stunted growth. And if you stay stunted for a while, you will begin to decline.

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If the young lady who came to my office has this terrible attitude while helping her with her business plan, what do you think will become of that business?

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The business can only be as successful as the entrepreneur behind it. Period.

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You think she was only that way with me and her attitude wouldn’t permeate her business? Think again!

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Anytime you neglect the tough and important things you need to do, it is a clear sign that you hate yourself.

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Any time you don’t go after your dreams out of fear of failure, it is a clear sign that you hate yourself.

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Any time you procrastinate unnecessarily, it is a clear sign that you hate yourself.

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Committing to Your Dreams

The good news is that you have the power to change the narrative. But it starts with brutal honesty. Do you truly believe in your dream? Are you willing to put in the blood, sweat, and (dare I say) tears to make it happen?

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If the answer is yes, then ditch the distractions, embrace discipline, and cultivate the qualities of a true entrepreneur: integrity, focus, and a growth mindset. These are the ingredients that will fuel your journey, not the fleeting dopamine hits of social media.

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And if you're serious about taking action, I'm here to help. My company, Cloud 98, specializes in empowering entrepreneurs with the marketing message and sales techniques they need to thrive. But remember, the real transformation happens within you.

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Are you ready to commit to your dreams and unlock your full potential?

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The choice is yours.

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This same company helps salespeople become people magnets, which in turn helps them become money magnets. If you follow the steps that we give you step by step and precept upon precept, even the gates of hell, including the devil and his cronies, cannot stop you.

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The reality is that only you can stop yourself.

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Don't let self-doubt or distractions dim your light. Take the first step, reply to this email, and say, "I don't hate myself," and let's turn your dreams into reality. Together.

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I will personally get in touch with you and book a free consultation to help you achieve your dreams in less than 90 days.

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I dare you to try me.

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This is Christopher Njokanma, signing off.

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Every week, I stay committed to providing value for you. Remember, my daring reader, to Like, Comment, and Share this article, for it might be the boost someone needs to ditch every form of distractions and truly see their dreams become reality. Stay tuned for more awe-inspiring insights and discoveries in the captivating world of unconventional success.

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Christopher is the President @ Cloud 98 - We power your brand's growth by harmonizing content and conversion.