In today’s fast paced, ever changing and distraction filled world the misguided perception is that the spoils in business go to the companies and management teams who can change direction the fastest; and most often.
As entrepreneurs, many of us are by our very nature attracted to new things and solving new problems.
Once an idea has been with us for a little while and we need to get down to the nitty gritty work part, the excitement wears off a little bit.
Then there are some setbacks or issues and things get a little less fun (mild understatement).
Boom, off to the next new exciting thing and fun returns for a while.
Unfortunately, the market doesn’t pay “you” to have fun. Your fun is optional.
It pays you to create value for others and to consistently solve problems or provide happiness and fun for others.
Relentless self-discipline and focus is required for real success.
“PhD or Pig-headed Discipline” as coined by Chet Holmes in the Ultimate Sales Machine.
Holding the Vision
As I had written in my prior post “Definiteness of Purpose: Key to Personal Success” this discipline requires definiteness of purpose.
The end result must be crystal clear.
In Manifast this is your business vision.
Your business vision is the story of what success will look, feel and taste like in 3, 5 or 10 years. It is a moving window and the more precise and definite it is, the more likely you are to hit it.
If you continuously change the vision you will likely accomplish nothing meaningful and expend a lot of resources with little to show for it.
Holding the vision allows you as the visionary entrepreneur to hold your course steady and avoid the temptation to chase every shiny ball or squirrel.
Save your creativity and adaptability for solutions to get you to your vision.
This is one of the most important secrets for business success.
The ability to execute is far more powerful than the ability to have ideas that don’t get executed well. As Napoleon Hill states, plans have a habit of improving if the definiteness of purpose is clear and strong.
Reflection
If something major changes in the market that may impact your ability to achieve the vision, by all means review it and update it immediately.
But only a really important change.
Otherwise have the discipline to leave it alone for a good period of time.
Quarterly or annually review the vision to see if it still makes sense. Then update it reflect your new version of success (remember it is a moving window).
Use goals to make your vision real and concrete over the shorter-term. We are now learning that timeframes 90 days or less are an optimal time for holding a team’s attention. Use this to your advantage to break up work.
Definiteness of purpose… hold your business vision steady so your team can execute it.
It may not be as attractive initially but the rewards are much more glamorous when you succeed.
