Are you breathing just a little and calling it a life?
A great quote but I have a sneaking suspicion that it doesn’t just refer to people’s lives but also to their businesses.
We are all so careful lest we make a mistake. We are so hesitant in case something goes wrong.
And the same applies to our businesses. The downside seems so huge. If it all goes pear-shaped then we lose the staff, the customers, our reputation, the confidence of the bank. If it goes really badly then we might even lose our family homes or even our partner and family.
So we become risk averse for fear of losing everything. But that is bonkers. That ‘safety first’ thinking limits us and puts us into an even bigger dead end than when we were employed.
And the downside isn’t quite so grim as it first appears... Rarely is business life totally binary - rarely is it either make millions or bankruptcy – there are lots of shades in between and there are usually lots of opportunities to retreat before the going gets really tough.
So, is your business breathing just a little and you’re calling it a business? Or is it really living to fulfill its potential? Are you seeing the opportunities for what they are? Are you considering all the positive outcomes, seeing the possible upside? Or do you immediately say ‘no’, almost out of habit, and as a result pass up on all kinds of benefits.
‘Business as Usual’ is the safe option. But quite how dangerous is the alternative? I am not proposing that you go crazy and try anything. What I am thinking is that we limit ourselves by trying to never lose. It may not be possible to ‘never lose’. Maybe you will lose and maybe the loss won’t be quite so bad. Maybe you won’t lose. But you’ll never find out if you don’t take some risks!
A great quote but I have a sneaking suspicion that it doesn’t just refer to people’s lives but also to their businesses.
We are all so careful lest we make a mistake. We are so hesitant in case something goes wrong.
And the same applies to our businesses. The downside seems so huge. If it all goes pear-shaped then we lose the staff, the customers, our reputation, the confidence of the bank. If it goes really badly then we might even lose our family homes or even our partner and family.
So we become risk averse for fear of losing everything. But that is bonkers. That ‘safety first’ thinking limits us and puts us into an even bigger dead end than when we were employed.
And the downside isn’t quite so grim as it first appears... Rarely is business life totally binary - rarely is it either make millions or bankruptcy – there are lots of shades in between and there are usually lots of opportunities to retreat before the going gets really tough.
So, is your business breathing just a little and you’re calling it a business? Or is it really living to fulfill its potential? Are you seeing the opportunities for what they are? Are you considering all the positive outcomes, seeing the possible upside? Or do you immediately say ‘no’, almost out of habit, and as a result pass up on all kinds of benefits.
‘Business as Usual’ is the safe option. But quite how dangerous is the alternative? I am not proposing that you go crazy and try anything. What I am thinking is that we limit ourselves by trying to never lose. It may not be possible to ‘never lose’. Maybe you will lose and maybe the loss won’t be quite so bad. Maybe you won’t lose. But you’ll never find out if you don’t take some risks!
14 comments:
OK I Think we get the point. Your observation is more than a little valid as many businesses struggle to keep goin gin this hideous economic environment.
Jim
Ouch
I think you have hit bit of a raw nerve here. In all honesty we are not really doing what we should be and as you said today in Cardiff that many people do a whole load of things and then they sit back and wait for new things to happen.
I know I need to do more but feel pretty tired to be quite honest. Maintaining all the enthusiasm and so on becomes almost impossible.
Time to get off my backside,
Hi Robert, I love this post. I couldn't agree more!
It's so easy to get caught up in 'playing not to lose' as opposed to really 'playing to win', and equally easy to kid yourself that you're doing everything possible to succeed. I know only to well both from the experience of my clients as well as my own personal experience.
That's why I always say that when it comes to business, the psychology of the business owner(s)/board is as important, if not more important, than the strategies, systems and all that other great stuff that is essential to run a successful business.
So play to win - although it's easier said than done...
Kyle
Thanks for your kind comments. Judging by the general comments on Twitter this blog seems to have hit a "raw nerve".
Trust all is good at your end.
Robert
Thanks for the reply Robert. I think it's hit a bit of a nerve because there's some truth in it for 99% of people.
In my experience, when you really start talking to people on a deeper level and get real (as opposed to the image we try and plaster over the top so nobobdy can see the real truth underneath), most people are really happy with how things are going in their life/business on some level. It's just generally taboo to talk about it. So I think you've just lifted the lid a bit and made people take a bit of a look...
Interesting comment..."most people are really happy with how things are going in their life/business on some level".
"On some level", I agree, most will be happy. I guess that I question how many "people are happy with how things are going etc.." as a period statement (ie not at some level)...
RC
stating the blindingly obvious.
The old 'safe is dangerous' mantra is only new to those who think safe is safe. Innocents headng totwards the slaughter. Big wake up call for these naive fools.
Look out for your jobs - there is a P45 not far away. And your observation that this applies to our businesses is the scarey thing for most.
‘Business as Usual’ is the safe option.
NOT
Thanks for your comments.
Robert
MOST businesses are only just breathing. Just waiting.
Here you write an article that tries to focus on people's weaknesses and vulnerability. And gives little opportunity for a reply. Unfair.
As relevant today as it ever was!!
The opportunity to reply is in the comments section so Louise could have replied here...
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