Laura Ege

Our culture esteems unwavering dedication to the task before us, loyalty to the company that employs us, or a forever commitment to that program we launched a while back. Yet as I study successful entrepreneurs and business owners, I notice a very different pattern. They are less likely to doggedly stand by that project and instead seem to agilely change directions at a moment’s notice. They aren’t afraid to ditch something that no longer fits with where they are in life today.

Now, I’m not talking about quitting as soon as the road gets rough. That is an entirely different scenario. There is a “dip” in virtually every endeavor worth undertaking, when the initial excitement has worn off and the struggle of day-to-day implementation kicks in. Quitting as soon as it feels hard is a sure-fire way to guarantee you’ll never succeed.

No, what I speak of here is the shift when what worked before no longer fits. When you’ve outgrown that golden strategy of yesterday. When your message no longer strikes a chord with your audience. Or the team that once so adequately supported you can no longer match your level of play in this bigger game. Or even when your heart is simply no longer in that project or program, and it lacks the purpose and passion it once held for you.

Culture often dictates we are to “stick it out” in situations like this. Don’t be a quitter, etc. Yet the patterns of truly successful people would indicate otherwise. Staying the course forever simply because it is the time-honored tradition actually keeps you from moving your business or life into the next level.

Think of it as the changing of the seasons each year. Do you want to spend all your time mourning the passing of summer and waste your energy trying to halt the inevitable movement into autumn? Or would you rather embrace the change as a natural cycle of life and open yourself up to the opportunities present in the new?

So what do you do if you notice the season has changed in some aspect of your business or life?

First of all, give yourself permission to bring closure to and let go of the old. Release the guilt you may feel or the self-deprecation over how you’re failing or being a quitter. You’re feeling this tug in your heart because it’s the path you’ve been called to. You’re meant to follow it! Celebrate the good in what has been and free yourself to dream of whatever adventure awaits you next.

And second, surround yourself with people who “get it”. You’ll find naysayers around every bend of the road when you propose change. They will come up with endless reasons why you should stick with the old and ignore the changing seasons. You need to recognize that their reasons are about them. They’re not about you and the path that is right for you. While it is fine to acknowledge any wisdom in their advice, don’t get derailed. Weight your support team heavily with people who understand why you want to move on with something new and who can encourage you to follow your path even when it feels scary or difficult.

Now go… be free to follow your passion and purpose. Help the people you’re meant to serve. Step into new levels of success, however you define it. And savor every breath of life… life’s too short to chain ourselves to something that no longer fits!

This entry was posted on Friday, July 16th, 2010 at 10:18 am and is filed under Becoming Extraordinary, Success Mindsets. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.