Greatest Predator to Success

Expectations.

You have your business plan in order, have passed the concept of your new venture by a few trusted advisors for feedback, and you’ve secured financing.  While no guarantee of success of course, you think you’ve at least acknowledged the possible things that could go wrong.

Often in action movies, the hero is portrayed as capable, skilled, and determined in their goal… but the predictor-villain gains the upper hand when they throw obstacles at the hero they are not prepared for.  The same scenario plays out with new businesses, especially in the early stage.

The hidden predator is within you… expectations. 

We all have them, wouldn’t be human if we didn’t.  They are the bain in our personal life.  We plan and look forward to our vacation to somewhere warm, the picture in our head has perfect sunny beaches and cocktails.  But… turns out a front has come through.  The sun is few and far between with mostly overcast and rain.  Our expectation has been blown out of the water.  How do we react?  We rush to find some other things to do, pivoting in an attempt to save the vacation.  Even more important… we need to realize we need to pivot expectations as well.  Dwelling on the trip that should have been, that could have been… will turn the week into a tortured disaster unless we pivot mentally.

Same is true with business. But we have to be more mindful, the challenge to our expectations is often not as apparent and stark as the clear difference between rain and sun.  

There are small things that happen that challenge our expectations.  Perhaps a few key customers you were counting on are dragging their feet.  Perhaps a supplier has delayed shipment a few months, maybe even giving a competitor priority over your start up.  Maybe a customer is taking advantage of your weak start up position to delay payment a few months.

Clearly, the business isn’t progressing as expected.  What do you do?  In some cases perhaps there isn’t much to be done physically, often storms need to be weathered.  But it is absolutely necessary is to have the right mental perspective.  If you loose yourself in what’s going wrong, you’ll be in no position to adjust things in order to make them right.  

Also, managing your own expectations puts you in a position to take advantage of the old phrase ‘never let them see you sweat’. 

Maintaining your mental presence will assist in maintaining your physical presence.  There is nothing as strong as confidence in the middle of a storm.  Whether it’s your spouse, your employees, your customers or your suppliers, managing these obstacles from a position of confidence shows that you can manage just about anything.  

In the long run, challenges make us stronger.  Ultimately, you may very well end up being more successful in the long run as this confidence not only attracts people, business additional business opportunities.