Even the best-laid plans can fail. Unforeseen obstacles, blind spots, and mismanagement of time can get in the way of your progress. You start off being passionate and energetic about your goals and years later, you may find yourself still hanging on to the dream rather than living it.
This scenario is more common than you might think. We all have limitations, expectations, and peccadillos that color the decisions we make in life – but, we should do our level best not to let our personal or psychological issues get in the way of our business progress.
Being aware of our tendencies is the first step towards mitigating risk. Being objective about our own performance and being able to take the steps necessary to improve is the goal, but ultimately, it’s about learning to avoid the self-defeating behavior altogether that will serve us best in the end.
Believe it or not, there are many common reasons that great plans get derailed – which is a very good thing because it means we can learn at someone else’s expense. Having some insight into the things that have tripped up so many others might just help you avoid similar situations.
1. Learn to manage your time effectively
You’ve probably got a lot on your plate. Keep in mind that there are only 24 hours in a day and that you are only one person. Be realistic about how much you can accomplish and don’t over-promise or under-deliver. If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask for it. Creative delegation is often the difference between getting ahead and … not.
2. Answer your phone
We all need downtime, but if you are an entrepreneur, you can’t afford to not be available, even if it’s only for one minute. If you are too busy to answer your phone directly, bring on a professional answering service. That one missed call could represent thousands of dollars in business, either directly or through referrals – but you must be ready to pick up when it lands in your lap.
3. Give it your all, all the time
Holding back never got anybody where they wanted to be. The most successful business people are that way because they just don’t give up. They give it their all and never concede by lowering their expectations or their standards.
4. Avoid negativity
If you surround yourself with negative people or if you have a self-defeating or negative attitude, you will be inviting negative energy into everything that you do. There is nothing that will slow you down faster than negativity. Failure should encourage you to learn from your mistakes, not wallow in them. if you focus only on the problems, you will invite more problems. If you focus on the solutions, your future will be full of them.
In conclusion, don’t cave in to excuses for giving up. If your dreams are worth dreaming, they are worth achieving. Doing some personal work to eliminate the obstacles to your growth will help you get out of your own way.
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