Sometimes, people take a long hard look at themselves. They evaluate their goals, failures, and successes and stack themselves against their aspirations and their inspirations. It’s one of the healthiest exercises one can do, after all “know thyself” like Socrates says. When that person is an entrepreneur or business owner, they also take a long hard look at their business, asking themselves similar questions.
We end up with a laundry list of goals kept and goals missed, mistakes, and achievements. We ponder, reflect. How can I do better? How can my business be better? It’s crucial to have this back and forth on a regular basis. It’s all too often left for New Year’s and quarterly (if that) meetings in a business context. You might argue with me, spouting your disdain for “self-help” and being preachy and the like. But seriously. If you’re not constantly evaluating yourself and your business, you’re letting life live you. If you’re an entrepreneur, you’re letting your organic opportunities, clients and the market steer. I don’t know about you, but this isn’t my idea of freedom.  “Riding the waves” is one thing, crashing into the sand because you’re not taking control of your metaphorical surfboard is another, don’t you think?
And here’s where I want to get practical. I’ve been around too many people, too many clients and too many colleagues that are surfing right along on life’s waves. If you’re on a surfboard and you enjoy your life and/or your business, rock on dude. But if life and business isn’t exactly what you’d like it to be, maybe it’s time to trade in the surfboard for a ship and for you to step up and be a Captain.
How you become the Captain:
- You realize it may not always be as fun as surfing
- You realize it may sometimes be more fun than surfing, especially in the long run
- You realize when you’re a Captain, you have to inspire, mobilize and lead others
- You realize you can’t have the title of Captain and not steer the rudder
- You have to know how to navigate (there are tools, you know and something called a Captain’s gut
- You have to know when to turn around or jump ship (Titanic, anyone?)
- You have to turn on the engines (you can’t rely on the waves anymore, now you have to propel yourself
- You realize if the ship goes down it’s your fault (not life’s)
- If the ship goes down you’re a Captain and that doesn’t change. You find another ship
