Hey guys. I was all fired up to write this 3 hours ago and sketched it out waiting on my tea to steep and now that Im done (TAKE THAT FRIDAY!) with the must-do's of the day before I work out, I just don't wanna. WAH.
But that would be mistake 3, and a little of 1. Whether you are a total entrepreneur or a contracted entity, if you are a 'professional' in the health and fitness industry (or any other), then your paycheck depends more on you than it does on the company you work for. This kind of came to me and I thought it would benefit someone on their journey so I wanted to share it.
Of course these are all totally my opinion based on experience and observation. Feel free to disagree.
MISTAKE 1:
Relying on to-do lists.
…and of course your rock-star work ethic :) But relying on lists instead of a plan with focused priorities that you schedule is not useless, but not ideal. Hey, at least you care enough to have a to-do list but its a terrible task master. Spend ALOT of time of where you are going and what is the focus for the year/quarter/month and day and put those tasks on your schedule, not a list--according to and around what projects have priority and had already been scheduled. The deal is this: ITS ALL IMPORTANT! Make your hours more effective by making a choice about what is the most important and make an appointment for each task according to how it fits in with the priorities. This is where a lot of NO's come from. No's are good, by the way:) I have a A list (must) a B list (should) and a C list (someday)….everything I think of goes on one of those lists, but i decide what goes on my schedule. Hope that helps!
MISTAKE 2:
Being a crappy Boss.
If you don't have a clear idea of your job description, what your primary responsibilities are and exactly what needs to happen for you to be a success at that job in such a way that you could hire someone and pay them to do this for you, then you are being a crappy boss. TO YOURSELF! Most people who are at the mercy of their own business and faced with 1 option, more hours is the only way to make more money are always lacking in this knowledge. if the only way to get ahead was to work more hours in your own business, what separates you from working at McDonald's for an hourly fee? Its not a bad gig and you have TONS less responsibility. Think about it.
MISTAKE 3:
Being a crappy Employee
So now that you have clearly defined roles and goals, you are up against the old "working for yourself gives you freedom" idea. Many mistake freedom for the definition of laziness. Freedom to work when you want really means discipline to work when nobody's watching AS IF everybody is watching.
MISTAKE 4:
You don't realize all
successful entrepreneurs are part of a team. Its not just 'them.'
Your business is so not
about you. It's all up to you, and it will all rise and fall depending on what you
choose to do and not to. But it is not about you. You may be the best trainer, rider, developer, programmer, chest presser, runner, or whatever your particular
talent is. And there is no question you have a talent to offer and that you are
special. You are just because you have a desire to leave your mark on the world and
improve things. It's awesome !! Because the only way we can improve the products
and services we all have access to through those of you with the
entrepreneurial spirit striving to make things better. The only way your vision will be accomplished is if your humble enough to find mentors and team
members that believe in your vision and pour yourself into the entire
team effort. Being willing to work harder and invest more than anyone ever
imagined and offer your team the opportunity to be a part of that growth and to
add to it is the only way to build something truly great. It is not about
having help with your goal. It is about coming together and using the skills
talents and abilities on a team that makes every individual on the team better
and rises everyone to the level of the new worthy goal. The desire to work
alone is driven by fear and ego. The desire to work on a team is driven by a
bigger vision, bigger than yourself, with an ultimate goal to serve and
contribute. And once you stop serving yourself and reaching for a goal
like that...that brings success.
MISTAKE 5:
Taking too long to learn how lack of boundaries just create drama and reduce the number of productive hours in the day, diminish the very relationships you are hoping to serve by being so available and invested, and reducing how effective you are in the hours left.
There is an art and a skill to all of this and I am still learning. I think its a skill in that you have to try an fail a lot and it hurtful personally, spiritually, financially, and emotionally, but if you choose to learn from it you can choose how to best navigate it all. Its an art because all the parts are moving and everyone in the system is different, but again you can learn the art…its a dance. You can learn any dance and then the art is learning how to enjoy it and make it look good.
Best of luck to all my entrepreneurial brethren and sister (sistren?) out there!!
Thats all it got!
Its all in your head,
Anna
