Starting a business has been one of the most humbling experiences I’ve ever undertaken. Every day, I’m faced with tough decisions, and there are times when it feels like I haven’t made any progress. I constantly have to weigh a crucial trade-off: do I work on my business, focusing on growth and refining systems? Or, in my business, creating something exceptional for a client? The truth is, I often feel I need to do both—sometimes simultaneously. And it can be overwhelming. Does this sound familiar to you?
One area I've been focusing on is forcing myself to slow down. It sounds counterintuitive in today’s fast-paced environment, where ads constantly tell us that “business has never been faster” and "we live in an economy that prizes speed." Then I came across an interview with the late great billionaire, Warren Buffet, who was asked about his favorite business book. Without hesitation, he answered, "The Tortoise and the Hare." A children's book?! I thought to myself. Intrigued, I continued reading, curious to understand his perspective. With all his experience, he must know something about business. He explained, “In all my years of reading that book, the tortoise always wins.” That response really struck me because I knew he was right.
Today, we’re often rushed into making decisions just to "keep up with the Joneses." Yet, these same decisions often bring more stress, anxiety, and costs than if we had taken the time to do things right the first time. So, what has helped me this past month? Every day, I spend 15 minutes asking myself: what’s the next small step I can take today to move my business forward? What are the two or three steps I can take to make a 1% difference? Just 1%. I then look at my to-do list and determine if what's on there will accomplish that. If not, I reprioritize. Taking just 15 minutes to prioritize my to-do list has not only saved me time but also given me a sense of accomplishment. This is in contrast to simply rushing in to check off boxes of my to-do, only to end up feeling like nothing was truly accomplished besides putting out a few fires. I’ve noticed, over time, that it’s these small, prioritized and consistent steps that bring the most reward and progress. Perhaps the tortoise does know a thing or two about business, after all.
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