Putting in the Effort
No matter what you want to accomplish, success doesn’t happen without putting forth effort, often, a lot of hard work. But even then, it may not come as easily as you think and that can be frustrating. It may cause you to want to quit. But quitting is not the right answer.
Many of my small business clients push themselves to a breaking point, trying to work harder, but not getting the results they were after. If you’ve been working hard but not getting the results you want, it’s time to reevaluate. By taking the time to review your vision, your why, your goals, your plan and your current strategies, you may discover smarter ways to reach your goals. You may see previously overlooked issues that are hindering your progress.
Once you’ve completed your reevaluation, there are other things you can do to give yourself a boost.
Build Trusting Relationships
If you look at successful people, you’ll often see they are surrounded by other successful people. They’ve networked and created trusting relationships with others who have similar goals as they do. These are people they can call in when they need help and who they can aid when needed.
Start networking and building trusting relationship with others who can offer advice, guidance, and support when you need it.
Find a Mentor and Be a Mentor
If you’re not moving at an acceptable pace, find a mentor who is. Search for a mentor who matches your
values and morals and who is living the life you want to live or has already achieved the goal you are pursuing. They can give you tips, introduce you to the right people, and help you to move forward.
Sometimes finding a mentor might mean participating in a mastermind or taking a fellow small business owner to lunch. I recently had a client visit some friends that he met at a company conference, and knew they were ahead of him in the growth of their business. So he took a long weekend to fly out to learn from them what they were doing and what challenges to expect as he begins to grow his.
Likewise, when you reach your goals or are moving steadily forward, be a mentor to someone a few steps behind you.
Get a Coach
A professional coach can help you accomplish most anything you can dream up. Find a coach who specializes in the area in which you are stuck. Obviously, if you are a small business owner that is considering a coach, I would love the opportunity to see if I might be a good fit for you and your business. Please feel free to connect with me here.
You may find that, over time, you hire more than one coach to help you punch through to the next level.
Learn Something New
If your current strategy isn’t working, look for other ways to reach the same goal. Research and read up on various methods until you find one that seems doable. Alternately, choose to learn something new that isn’t related to what you are stuck on. Sometimes, taking your mind off the problem and learning something completely new will reenergize your mind and body, giving you a new perspective on things.
Delegate
Sometimes slow progress is due to a lack of time. When you have too much on your plate, you cannot properly focus on what you need to do. You can buy more time by delegating to family members or paying others to help you. This might mean hiring a housekeeper, a bookkeeper, a marketing professional or someone to run errands for you throughout the week. Oftentimes, taking just a little off your plate can make a big impact on your results.
If you feel like you’re always working hard, but not making much progress, it’s time for a change. Take a break. Assess where you are compared to where you want to be. Look for ways to reduce stress, gain new insight and start moving forward.
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