By: John Glover (MBA)
There is no linear path to success; in fact, you will stumble along the way. Trust me, I’ve been there a time or two. As someone in my late 40s, I’ve gone from job to job and experienced failure a handful of times, especially when starting a small business. You cannot plan for certain things; sometimes, your control gets removed. This is all a part of life, but it can be hard to learn. Hey, I’m still learning it now. No matter what your dream is, success is full of trial and error, and you just have to keep going.
I might be a journalist now, but I wasn’t always. Most people spend their whole lives jumping from career to career. I even took a small break in between and tried my hand at starting a business. The biggest thing I learned from that experience is that reaching your goals takes persistence and dedication. You have to be the captain of your own ship and take charge when the waters get choppy. Alan Siege, CEO and host of The Pitch Show, says it best.
“Reaching a goal is something we all want to do; it’s a way to measure that something you want to happen does. What if your goal is not achievable because of obstacles you did not anticipate? But sometimes, the obstacle is you. Knowing the difference is very important. Both have been a part of my life,” says Siege.
“But sometimes, the obstacle is you.” When I first heard this statement, it resonated with me and my past experiences because it’s true. Often, when we set goals for ourselves or start working towards a dream, we let ourselves and our struggles get in the way. We can tend to give up at the first few signs of problems because it’s easier. No one ever said owning a small business or working toward your career goals would be easy. You have to work through the challenges and remind yourself why you started this journey in the first place. I know I’ve had to take myself out of the equation, think of the bigger picture a time or two, and look where I am now. I feel the most successful and confident that I have ever been, and all it took was recognizing that I am the obstacle in my path to success.
Another part of being successful is understanding why you wanted to start this in the first place. You had this idea for a reason and decided to put it into motion, and why? You most likely felt confident in your skills and abilities to complete it, so don’t forget that. Don’t underestimate yourself just because it gets tough.
“Recognizing that the goal is not attainable because of requirements to reach it is realistic and important to accept; why bang your head against an immovable wall? Conversely, roadblocks that you create – undervaluing yourself or your abilities are often not accurate and should be challenged. Again, think back to how your goals all started. What pushed you to get to where you are now? That goal was part of your dream, your vision for your business. Although difficult, don’t let your head turn it into a nightmare,” says Siege.
That is something I think about every day. As a journalist, I often get told “no” or asked to revise something I might feel proud of. These obstacles are all part of the learning process, but it doesn’t diminish my writing skills and success. As a small business owner, I tried to remember this too. Remember how far you have come when things pile up and feel out of control. It’s important to take pride in your accomplishments and don’t let the intrusive thoughts of having small failures win.
Honestly, failing is the only way to truly be successful. How can you truly know success if you don’t have something to make you question it? Being successful is all about trial and error, and whether you are a small business owner, an employee in the corporate workforce or a journalist like me, there is always room for growth. Growth will help you reach the success we all crave.
Published by: Holy Minoza
