Striving to gain control, working to have everything just right, waiting for the perfect moment, delaying until everything lines up… If this describes your approach to your goals, your life or your career – you are going to be relegated to the slow lane of life where few opportunities and fewer rewards reside.
It has often been said that entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart and that the path to real success is a messy road. Occasionally it is even a little hard to watch, with so many ups and downs, moments of sheer terror, days of hanging on by a thread, soaring highs countered by free-falling failures, the pressure of having a tiger-by-the-tail and many moments of momentum and madness – but the end result is extraordinary! So in a way it is kind of like someone who loves sausage – wonderful to eat but you really never want to watch it being made!
With the previous description of the path to success and achievement some may ask why pursuit it? Those who ask are generally those who have never experienced the rush of peak performance living for themselves. Those who need absolute control to function will never truly enjoy in the sunshine on the peaks and mountaintops of success.
Achievement comes as we learn to gain confidence in moving at a pace a little faster than we are used to. Quick, but not rushed, pressing but never stressing. Learning to live in a world where things are not perfect, where you may not have all the information you want or where you may not have the perfect team or perfect presentation is vital to accomplishing your goals.
You must be careful not to fall into the pattern of the old analysis paralysis or perfectionist procrastination syndromes. Each represents a major inhibitor to your pace and speed. The world and business markets are ever accelerating and your ability to move swiftly, even when feeling a bit out of control, will determine what you achieve. A race car driver and crew can tinker forever on a myriad of parts and processes, but if they are forever returning to the pits or slowing down to check one more thing, the competition will literally run circles around them.
Obviously it is important to do everything you can to be in control, to have a plan and to execute, but keep in mind as you move forward, especially if you are moving at a good pace, there will always be challenges, obstacles, roadblocks and course corrections to make – while you continue to move fast. Remember, sloppy success is always better than perfect procrastination.
Mario Andretti, as one of the great racecar drivers of all time knew a thing or two about speed and about winning. He was right, “If you have everything under control, you’re not moving fast enough.” And you will NOT win!
