Being in business is a challenging way to live.
Being in business is a challenging way to live. If we are able to get a solid foundation in our minds about how we do business, it really helps us to make decisions about how we operate. Too often new people (and those with more experience) in business get caught up in all the wonderful offerings that are out there. Training and placing yourself as the student are all very good if they add to your business outcomes.
How we get trapped into thinking we are not enough
But too often the temptation is to keep training and trying something new to get your business more perfect, and in your own mind become more successful. And so every idea seems like a good idea and every free training seems worth doing and every ‘6 figure promoter’ who sounds successful gets your attention. So you start following and getting every spare moment filled with more training and more knowledge and more everything. But lets think about this in terms of chasing a car or a bike.
Why it doesn’t make sense to chase cars
If you run behind a car, chasing it everywhere you’ll get exhausted, and if run behind a bike you’ll get two tired (excuse the pun). So don’t try and chase what appears to get you to where you want to go, faster.
Learn how to drive your own car
Instead get in your own car or bike by practicing the discipline of driving or riding. The discipline in a car starts with getting into first gear and taking off the handbrake. And you need to do this slowly and carefully, not take off like a mad racer, otherwise you might crash (become bankrupt of money or energy – get sick etc). Or you will terrify yourself and not want to drive (be in business) any more. You also need to learn the road code to be a safe driver. This means being aware of laws that affect the type of business you are going to run.
Learning how to manage high speeds
You need to practice in all the gears before you cruise on the highway, otherwise you simply won’t be ready to manage your speed, or know how to stop. And if you can’t do this, you’ll miss the signs and your turnoff to where you want to go. It’s the same for your business. You might miss the car ferry turnoff, that would have really got you to where you wanted to go, a hell of a lot faster!
Learn bike riding before getting a car
On your bike you need to learn how to balance and stay upright no matter what bumps and turns come your way. When you can do this and also stop and start with ease you have learned the first rule of all gentle travellers. You are not able to control the terrain you go over without advance planning. But even then, there may be potholes and unexpected ripples in the road that make it a bumpy or dangerous or slippery ride.
But you have a much more exciting ride when you truly know how to control your bike and how to swerve to get back to solid ground. When you enter a new environment, if you are solid in your skills of bike riding you don’t have to overfocus on the ground. Instead you can lift your head and really enjoy the ride. You know that you can quickly respond and be flexible enough to avoid any disaster.
Once you are in control you don’t need to chase anyone
When you are able to drive your own car, or ride your own bike, you don’t need to chase anyone.But what does this mean? It means that every one of us is our own unique vehicle.
The slow ride is often not so slow
Some of us are like old fashioned bikes. We like the fresh air and prefer to be outside and love to do things slowly and with great enjoyment of our journey. We aren’t too interested in getting anywhere fast, but surprise surprise we get there anyway. On one of our many stops for a chat and cup of tea, we meet a guy with a flat deck. He is a hellova nice guy and is going over the steep range this morning. And he offers to pop you and your bike on the back. So your journey is accellerated while you make a friend.
The challenging ride
Or maybe you are like a racing bike or a mountain bike. You love to be challenged and like to choose the steepest or most challenging route – that’s what literally spins your wheels! You don’t want the ride that’s offered but if you come off and are grazed and bruised, you’ll be most appreciative of the lift.
Know your bike
But it’s only you who knows what your bike is really like. It’s made up of your natural cycles, your personal way of interacting with your environment and people, and your excitement and enthusiasm of not knowing exactly where you are going. You relish the challenges of the unexpected and you get excited by your wonderful ability to cope with what comes up. Or maybe you like the old trusted route along the river that you know well, with your dog running along side. It’s fun, its safe and you often meet other locals for a chat. This may suit you perfectly. Whichever type of biker you are, your outlook is very different from being in a car.
A greater acceleration
If your own personal vehicle is more like a car, you like to get things done fast and you are often more interested in the destination than the journey. You might be the type who always takes the fastest route to get to where you want to go. If you are this type of A personality you will find it impossible to go anywhere slowly. It will be boring and feel like a waste of time.
But not all car drivers like to go fast
Or maybe you like to go off the main roads and discover some little side roads if you have the time. Do you prefer to stop and start and enjoy your journey along the way with every stop off nourishing you in some way?
Know how you like to travel
You can of course be a combination of both types, but its good to know how you like to travel. Because we are all in our own ‘body vehicles’ and each one of us has our own gentle or great speedy way we like to travel, and everything in between.
Don’t get too hung up on the destination
So, if you are an old fashioned bike that gets you to where you want to go with plenty of stops and lots of cups of tea, so be it. We don’t need to be so hung up on the destination. Because what happens when we get to the planned destination? We inevitably get bored and want to start a new journey.
Other’s destinations may not suit you
So learn about when you’d like to get off, and have a break from chasing anyone else. Their destination may sound wonderful but they are not you and they don’t share your own unique way of being in the world. It takes all types to make a truly wonderful world.
Why we need to know what spins our wheels
We can become aware of what truly spins our wheels and this stops us from buying into everyone elses version of success. When we do this, we stop chasing a car or a bike that is going too fast and we get in the drivers seat of our own way of doing things.
The way leaders power their vehicles
There have been many people in the world who have created amazing businesses with absolutely no business training or mentoring or social media etc. But they were passionate about something and this passion brought others to them who wanted to take the same journey, albeit in their own vehicle.
Power your vehicle with whatever spins your wheels, and become the driver.
Keep your journey your own and allow others to chase the fast car. You will have ended the need to be a follower, and in doing so you can start being a leader.
Katie Kalin is a kinesiologist with over 30 years experience working with groups and individuals. She runs a private clinic in Cork City and also does online kinesiology/coaching consultations. Access one free half hour online consultation with her to experience surrogate muscle testing through www.katiekalin.com
Recent Comments