Business Is A Challenge. Are You Up To It?
In 1998, I listened to James Paramore give a speech entitled, “Life Will Be a Challenge.” In that talk, he re-told a true account about a school teacher who was following up on a summertime assignment by asking her students what important lessons they were taught about self-reliance during their summer vacation.
After several accounts of “lessons learned” were shared, she asked Johnny what lesson he had learned. Johnny replied. “Well, my dad taught me how to swim.” “Fantastic, Johnny. That’s a great thing to learn.” “Yeah,” Then he continued, “He took me out in the middle of a lake, and he just threw me overboard, and told me ta swim back to shore.” “WOW!,” the teacher said. “That took a lot of courage.” “Yes it did,” Johnny said, “but it wasn’t all that bad once I got myself out of that darn gunnysack!”
Well, I got a chuckle out of that little story—that was about 11 years ago and it struck me pretty powerfully at the time, because I’ve actually felt like that before—sort of stuck in that gunnysack, trying to swim to shore—especially back then when I was just venturing out as an entrepreneur.
I’ve felt like that when I was trying to launch my very first company in 1992. I felt like that when I was trying to figure out how to take a company to the next level after Venture Capitalists invested millions in my company. I’ve felt like that while trying to figure out the latest marketing method, copywriting technique, or blogging strategy. I’ve felt like that at many different stages while trying to sort through the avalanche of business information that’s out there…
Maybe you’ve struggled in a similar way? Maybe you’ve struggled to decide on a business concept. Maybe you’ve struggled with Internet Marketing, raising capital, finding a partner, purchasing a business, managing cash, or changing your business model. Perhaps, you’ve struggled to really learn how to become as successful in your business as some of those great entrepreneurs that we’ve all watched and admired from a distance.
You know, those who are the true Masters of Business have figured out what really works and then went out and did it. They didn’t focus on the fact that they were out the middle of the lake, stuck in a gunnysack. They focused on how to get out and get moving.
I want to know what you are doing right now, to wrestle your way “out of that gunnysack”?
Are you up to the challenge of business?
Will you sink or swim?
Tags: Business, challenges, Entrepreneurship, motivation, Success
February 5th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
There is no greater formula for success than the desire to survive and the will to succeed. Oh yes they wil help us get out of any gunnysack, especially when we see death and failure staring us in the face. Sticking to one’s dreams and building a team of likeminded individuals going in the same direction also helps. Certainly reinforce positive behaviours and atitudes.
February 5th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
I liked the intention but felt that the content was lacking the ingredient to nail the point you were bringing.
February 5th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
OH I will swim as long as it takes, unceacingly with dedication and focus with the prize in plane sight, with patience and dicipline guided with wisdom from above. I realy enjoy your inspiring subject matter, THANKS
February 5th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
What a great lesson! Since, actually that is what i am experiencing now.
I am trying to find an ideal concept of my business, I am trying to raise the capital up, I am trying to produce or do the things more efficiently, I am trying to capture more market, and I am still . . . trying to understand what really it is all about?
Thanks a lot.
Regards, cool.
February 5th, 2009 at 10:13 pm
Great Blog! I did request for you to be my friend on facebook. I want to create an incredible resource site for people who work from home. The web designer I have worked with for the past 8 years is redirecting to a zen who knows what??? I certainly want to swim, but need to learn some new strokes.
Agi Anderson
February 6th, 2009 at 12:43 am
Business is truly a challenge and it involves a lot of self sacrifice, discipline and belief in personal ability to excel.
I can’t agree with you more
February 6th, 2009 at 2:16 am
I am a retired family doctor since yr 2000.I have felt very green on my first assignment in a small town in Saskatchewan canada when I migrated to Canada after graduating in UK.Job was challenging but I had rigt attitude and I was sincere and hard working.Three years later I moved to city of Saskatoon in saskatchewn where I started fresh from the start.I was successful in establishing my practice within 6 months. My biggest disappointment has been failure of health and difficulty in maintaining practice from 1995 onward.I am committed to learn copy writing and feel confident that I will swim across this hurdle with some help.
February 6th, 2009 at 3:38 am
hi!
this article was wellwritten and good because people like me (blue collar)are also struggling towards the light as it says in the story the road may be long but the most important thing for me is that you dont know what gives a person a spark to do what anybody has done before in that sens it was a good article
kindest regards/peter
February 6th, 2009 at 4:05 am
Well, I’m just starting my internet business. So, so far I haven’t really dealt with being an entrepreneur. But what I’m guessing is that I’m going to reach it to a specific level so it can swim for itself! That is my plan and intention. Then I want to start something bigger and more fulfilling. That’s when I’ll really be testing myself! But I feel pretty confident everything will be better than I imagine. Plus I know that if I get stuck in any way…I have you guys!!! So thanks in advance for being here!
February 6th, 2009 at 4:31 am
Yes, I can relate to that in a big way. I am 28 and for the first time are attempting my first blog. Altjhough I have a very good coach and support, it remains a challenge, not always in the workside of things but in your mind. Am I going to make money? Am I doing it right? Is it good enough?
But then I realise, like you said in the post, I focus on getting out of that gunnysack. I am growing in person as much as I’m growing in knowledge.
February 6th, 2009 at 6:13 am
Challenge is good, when you start a marketing business everyone on the internet keeps telling you how they can share the secret on how to be a millonare. There is no secrets and if you are trying to launch three businesses at a time you needs assistance in order for you to duplicate your efforts. I welcome some advice on how to battle this challenge.
February 6th, 2009 at 7:06 am
Your writeup is realistic and encouraging. I have been thinking of building a business so that I can be an employer not just employee for the rest of my life. Now I have discovered that life is just about making choices and whatever choice you make there are challenges to face. So the best way out is to build enthusaism into it so that one can enjoy every step of the challenges.
February 6th, 2009 at 9:34 am
Hi,
I am in middle of a job, in which I want to determine or identify the opportunities to grow,
financially and knowledge wise.
I am not able to get motivated to move up.
I need practical guidelines to move up.
can u help..
February 9th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Dear Jeff,
Frankly to say that I’m really interested in following your guide to be a success businessman, yet I am still thinking of it since at the moment I only am a government official who get salary monthly (approx US $ 500.o) and will be retired next year (March). Therefore, I am very eager to find steady big income before pension, so I can run my own business when I left my job in due time.
Regards,
Syarkani Salam
February 10th, 2009 at 10:26 am
keep doing it.
February 11th, 2009 at 7:10 am
Truly, business is a big challenge. I cannot agree more with you. I left my job and started out in business for about a year now and everyday seems harder than the last. The joy is that when you are serious with it you are well rewarded on the long run.
Any way what will a businessman be doing with his time if not to think of how to grow his business?
February 13th, 2009 at 2:00 am
Dear Jeff,am interested in following your guide.And i love being a successful business owner.
I am a college student at 20 pursuing my undergraduate degree and working on apart time basis and earning very little money.pliz can you advise me on a business ideas that i can do to increase on my earnings.
February 23rd, 2009 at 5:56 am
Hi Jeff
I have been side-tracked these past +8 months and totally confused as to where to start.
I have been motivated by you and I am hesitant to say, I will leave off all that I have been side-tracked by and go with you.
I need to start from scratch. I need guidelines
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:16 am
Whereas business is a challenge, business owners need to acquire new information to help them survive in the dynamic/changing trends. This site provides intriguing information that is vital for all small scale business owners.
April 27th, 2009 at 5:16 am
Surviving today is tough. Not just because of the environment but for the lost trust in our environment.
Between banks, big business and government, we small business owners can only count on ourselves. Here are asome indeas I have:
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My two cents abirol@andybirol.com