What A Childhood Game Taught Me About Success
This time of year things are picking up. You are probably out mowing all day and the phone is ringing off the hook. As we all know, there is plenty of work and not enough good professionals to get the work done. This is prime time to be growing your business, but that begs the questions, how do you grow your business? There is so much information out there and so many different methods and “gurus” that it can be hard to figure out what path to take.
If you’re anything like me, while you are out working, you’re listening to audiobooks, podcasts and YouTube videos. Taking in as much information as you possibly can while getting your work done. With all the information and content out in the world you are bound to hear conflicting opinions when it comes to growing your business. It took me a long time to decide what information was worth consuming, as well as which philosophies aligned with the goals.
Just because you are consuming a certain content doesn’t mean that it applies to you. You are the one that decides what advice to take action on. What is working for someone’s $10M business won’t work for a solo six figure business. That doesn’t mean anyone is doing it wrong, it just means there are different stages and paths to success. The key here is to implement the knowledge that you find most helpful for your business. Learning new information and skills is great, but implementation is better!
For the most part, people are out there giving well intended advice, however just because someone has a microphone, doesn’t mean you should listen to them. Find the information and the path that resonates most with where you are and where you want to be. Even then, just because someone found success one way doesn’t mean there aren't other ways to go about it. You have to form your own path with the information you decide to put into action.
When I was about ten years old, a group of my friends would gather in the trailer park and play Kick The Can.
Have you heard of it?
Well, here’s how we played as kids: We’d round up fifteen or so kids and set boundaries of where the game was to be played. One person would be it; their goal was to tag all the players and send them to jail, so that the can would be protected. Meanwhile, the can has been placed somewhere within the boundaries. The goal for all the other players was to kick the can. Players that were still in the game could get their friends out of jail.
Are you still with me?
Basically, the main goal of this game was to kick the can. The game would begin and chaos ensued. Kids would run all around trying to kick the can and avoid being tagged. All the while, trying to free their friends from jail. Eventually, the game would get down to the person who is it, and the remaining player trying to kick the can. That player would have a decision to make, do they go for the can and try to win the game or do they get their friends out of jail. Of course playing with others is far more fun, but isn’t the objective to win? The name of the game is to kick the can, so that’s how you win. Isn’t the name of the game in your business to make money? As fun as it is to get your friends out of jail, that’s not how you win the game.
Bottom line is everyone is a “guru” these days and everyone has something to say, but you are the one that knows what’s best for your business. You can follow in their footsteps, but no one person has all the right answers. Frankly, there are no right answers because what’s right for one person may not be right for someone else. Don’t let the shiny objects or the clout distract you because it’s not about that. I have people telling me every day “Brian you should get a dump truck.” “Brian you should get a dump trailer.” “You should rent a shop.” “You should own a shop.” The suggestions go on and on. As well intentioned as those comments may be, none of them are in my shoes. Only I can decide what’s best for the path that I’m on. I can choose to take their advice, I can also choose to not take their advice. Everyone has their own secret sauce that works for them, so if you’re still looking for yours, you’ll find it. Take some quiet time, sit down, and figure out what it is you really want. Then look at what you need to get there. This is your journey so figure out what’s going to make sense for you!
