The above mantra was printed on my doodle pads that I gave mentees in the days before I made the decision to go paper free. However, the reality is that 92% of people never achieve their New Years resolutions or goals. (University of Scranton)
Why?
During a clear out over Christmas, I found one of these old pads and it got me thinking about goals as well as achievements – how some have an approach that rushes in, others take their time to plan followed by careful action which could be interpreted as procrastination whilst some hit a fine balance and nail it. Whilst in this seasonal reflection, I recalled a conversation with a high net worth individual, wealthy from his business being acquired. He had an incredibly relaxed manner, and he was making the point that there was plenty of time to execute our plan.
‘Slowly, slowly catch a monkey,’ I quipped.
‘Mm’ he replied. ‘Yes, but be aware, monkeys can die!’
This has stayed with me all these years. I often refer to it when I feel a mentee is procrastinating. I use it to relay that an opportunity may pass and as the saying goes; timing is everything. It is also a prompt to look at the age and size of the monkey i.e. is the goal too big, the expectation too high?
However, on the contrary to never giving up is the very important point of when it is time to call it a day. I have kept a business trading for too long and lost what little there was left equity wise because of indecision and the possible stigma of failure. It is all too easy to believe that the tide will turn, and the environment will change along with your fortunes. If I had a mentor at that time, I’d like to think the situation would have been discussed and my decision-making process gained an insight. That is what happens when you engage with a credible business mentor.
So, what is the balance? When do you stay determined and when do you stop, regroup? There is no easy answer or formula because every single circumstance has a unique edge. A business mentor will explore with you all the possible options that should be on the table. Not only do they carry their own experiences, they also carry that of all the businesses they have worked with.
Another saying I have borrowed to help keep me focused is….
‘Be a friend to your future self.’
What would our future self be thankful for? Not giving up or being realistic? That is for us to determine and no matter what, the buck stops with us. We are responsible for our own decisions. The fact is though that situations and options discussed with someone who has been there and done it will have a different light shone upon them.
There are a few things my current self is thankful and not so thankful for. Learning to embrace an outcome whatever it may be is a big one, another is constantly having something to work towards, a tangible achievement is winning The Peoples Mentoring Champion in 2019. I was always reticent to enter awards for fear of failure, however the process unearthed much experience that I had forgotten about. Awards are a fantastic method of reflection, sense checking and motivation not to mention the networking. So be a friend to your future business and self. Set an award goal for 2025. Elite 100 is open and if you need a mentor to support the process or look at realistic goal setting in general you know where to find the credible ones!
