In my work, I talk to people every day with big goals, a wealth of knowledge, and exciting ideas about what to do next in their life, business, or career.
But accompanying their eagerness, I often detect at least a hint of apprehension —
“Will this next phase go as well as I hope?”
“Am I up for the challenge?”
“What if something goes wrong?”
As they make progress along the road to change, this uneasiness often grows. They’re trying to build something different and better, but it’s not going as planned.
While it’s true that things never quite go as planned, some folks really seem to falter easily.
As soon as the wind blows in the wrong direction, everything starts to fall apart.
“I didn’t get the job! I knew I wasn’t director material.”
*applies for a lower-level role making $30k less*
“My boss ignored my idea. Guess it wasn’t so great after all.”
*keeps even better idea to self*
“That sales call was a disaster! I’m going to end up on the streets.”
*spends afternoon in bed reading about scammy promises of passive income*
“I worked so hard on my email newsletter; hardly anyone read it. What a waste of time!”
*waits six months to send another email, this time asking people to buy something*
One moment they’re a go-getter, full of hope and fired up about possibilities. The next, they’re ready to give up or whining about how nothing ever works out for them.
Their mental well-being and outlook on life are completely circumstantial.
Why? Because they don’t have a strong personal foundation.
They’re trying to build on shaky ground. No wonder they’re liable to topple over at any moment!
So here’s the thing —
Pushing ahead with building plans, desperately trying to stack the pieces of your dreams — isn’t going to work.
A solid personal foundation is the cornerstone of success.
When you have a solid foundation in place, you’re less shaken by the bad things that happen. You may have a setback or a rough day, and you may trip or stumble. But when you know your core foundation is concrete, you’re able to brush yourself off, get back up, and keep going.
No matter the endeavor, building your foundation is THE step that can’t be skipped.
But when you strike out on your own in the pursuit of building a business, I’ve found that it’s even more critical.
You need a strong personal foundation AND a strong business foundation. Otherwise, the precariousness of the structure or situation can do you in.
One sales call went awry?
You need the fortitude to make another and another.
Nobody read your email newsletter?
Figure out what they want to read and send another and another.
Your cat threw up on your desk right before your client call?
Wipe it up and keep it moving.
Found out you need surgery while planning a launch?
Adjust the plan to prioritize your health while keeping your business alive and well.
When I’m working with my business owner clients, I always look for evidence that they are building their business on shaky ground — and warn them! Because the fallout comes with nasty consequences.
It typically looks something like this:
1. Your income is sporadic; you never know what you’re going to make from month to month.
2. New leads are sparse, so you have no idea where your next client is coming from.
3. Your mood determines your business-building activities.
4. Your clients don’t refer to you. They like you ok, but they’re not sending new business your way.
5. You’re hiding, avoiding business conversations and networking opportunities.
And it’s all because they don’t have a blueprint for putting the proper infrastructure in place. The foundation is shaky.
They’re missing stuff like…
Having systems, repeatable processes, and automation in place.
Packages and programs with compelling offers and clear pricing.
Plans and scripts for overcoming client objections.
In other words, they’re flying by the seat of their pants, operating on a whim — stacking assorted building blocks on nothing but sand.
You simply can’t build a sustainable career or business without a solid foundation.
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