Have you ever felt like your business has reached the pinnacle of success? Perhaps you feel that you’ve done your hard work, and now you can relax and take a break. You’re ready to kick up your feet and call it a day. It sure feels good to be on top.
When it comes to business, you simply can’t take your foot off the pedal. Coasting isn’t good enough—and it’s not conducive to the future success of your business. Don’t stunt yourself and your business by assuming you’ve reached the summit, and don’t limit yourself with the belief that there’s no room left to grow. In business, there’s always room to grow.
Achieving a milestone is an incredible feeling. It is so gratifying to bask in the warmth of success, as you should! Your accomplishment is worthy of congratulation. But eventually, the novelty wears off, and that pride can be replaced by the trickster complacency.
Are You Getting Complacent?
Why do we become complacent? Well, there are a few possible reasons. The first is that complacency is comfortable. When we know the recipe for success, it becomes easy to repeat that recipe day after day. It works, and if it’s not broken, why should you fix it? You’re happy with “good enough.” It’s simple and familiar; it doesn’t involve taking risks, thinking outside of the box, or the potential for failure.
The second is that growth, the antithesis of complacency, can be hard, scary, and uncomfortable. It means frustration, reassessing your goals and methods, difficulty, and disappointment. But growing pains are necessary because they yield something greater than before: a new accomplishment to celebrate.
Here’s how you can refocus and avoid the tar pit of complacency.
On to the Next Thing!
When you reach your goal, it’s time to set another one. Don’t let the plateau of complacency obscure your sight of the bigger picture. First, take the time to celebrate the goals you’ve already met, and then make a list of goals you want to meet in the future. After all, goals can be set anytime, anywhere. The beauty of them is that they constantly evolve—just like us! Use SMART goal setting to help you get started.
Don’t Settle
Why should you be happy with “good enough?” Mediocrity is good enough for some people, but is it good enough for you? It’s good—healthy even—to hold yourself to a high standard. It helps you be better, and often, it can have a positive influence on those around you. If you expect greatness from your coworkers and employees, start by expecting greatness from yourself first.
Give Grace
High standards are great, but they can be a bit of a double-edged sword. Perfectionism can be paralyzing, and it can make us afraid to fail, which may be why some people reject new things and stick with the ‘tried and true’ method. Pair your high standards with grace and compassion. Understand that it is natural to fail and make mistakes, but the measure of true success is whether you’re able to get back up, dust yourself off, and try again. By giving grace to yourself and those around you, you can cultivate a healthy and positive work environment that fosters both achievement and innovation.
Don’t let complacency get your business down! Striving is all part of the job description. By the same token—never hesitate to ask for help when you need it! My Annapolis Office is always here to support your business goals, and we love being a part of your success!
