From Stuck to Unstoppable: Removing Roadblocks on Your Path to Success

I attended a conference on the weekend and actively listened as one business owner after another gave their reasons while they hadn’t yet achieved the success they desired.

Without question, the number one issue was cash flow. And that got me thinking. How easy would it be to grow your business with an endless supply of cash? It would be amazing, right? Here’s $20,000 to throw at a new marketing campaign. Your loans approved to buy that new machine that will increase productivity be seven percent. What if you had the money to take on those two new salespeople or buy out your competitor? Your business life would be amazing! Sadly, the truth is that endless cash flow won’t ensure success.

I’d like you to take this time to dig deep and ask yourself, what’s truly holding you back from reaching your goals?

I’ll guarantee you it’s not economic conditions, soaring interest rates, stiff competition, or a lack of cash flow.

The answer lies in identifying and tackling the emotional blockages that stifle business growth.

One or more of your emotional blockages have a greater impact on your business’s growth potential. To grow your business, you must be strongly motivated, an effective decision-maker, provide clear communication and handle stress, deliver necessary change, and build a culture of trust, innovation, and collaboration.

Which of these common emotional blockages hold you, your team, and your business from achieving your goals?

Fear of Failure

Have you ever avoided decisions or said no to sidestep the potential risk of a project? It may have been a smart choice, or your actions may have suppressed growth and innovation. You’ll know when it happens because you’ll be more concerned about making a mistake than cherishing the potential of the opportunity.

Perfectionism

Perfectionism disrupts productivity in a relentless pursuit of the unattainable. It can easily morph into procrastination, anxiety, and a fear of failure. It’s counterproductive as it leads to excessive stress and slow decision-making.

Frequently Avoided Conversations

You know you have to have that conversation, but it gets pushed off the agenda until the next day, week or never. Commonly, it’s a conversation around performance, behaviour or pay. You may need to have one of these conversations right now. You’re not because you feel guilty or fear the negative reactions. Unresolved issues fester impacting team morale, your best team members will lose faith in your leadership and look for other opportunities.

No one can do it as well as me

A lack of trust leads to micromanagement and blockages in progress due to unwieldy control issues. Effective process and training is the answer but no its quicker to do it yourself. Good luck with that!

Not learning from past failures

Past failures are the steppingstones to success. Yet some owners view failure as the end of the road. Please don’t. Understand why and move on. Grow requires you to take risks allow for it in your decision-making.

Unwillingness to change

Rigid thinking is doomed. Closed-minded thinkers are poor leaders who miss opportunities and then blame others for their lack of success. Mandate innovation as the highest priority in all aspects of your business, and then watch as the magic happens.

Running a business is a soul-searching exercise. Learning to be more open-minded and self-aware is the key. Growth is not linear it’s more like a game of snakes and ladders. Please take some time to identify the issues that are holding you back and then think differently.

Your business depends on it. Your family relies on it.