Measuring results

A top mistake entrepreneurs make is refusing to measure results. Usually you’ll know surprisingly quickly if something works for growing your business. Early indicators will tell you if you’re on the right track. But most of us look the other way and stick our heads in the sand anyways. I’m guilty of this all the time.

Staring a problem in the face that just won’t go away feels terrible. And that’s pretty much what entrepreneurship is. Looking at a problem, the same problem, over and over again, trying different solutions, until you break through. Then as soon as that’s done, you put a system in place, and look for the next problem. It’s like that all the time.

Times when I stay focused and don’t look away from the problem are times when we see most rapid growth. However, it is a draining enterprise. And if I don’t have a really good system in place for coming back to mental clarity every day, it is impossible. I’d say there are about 3-4 hours each day I can truly stare a problem in the face that I’ve had to stare at every day for a decade before it’s too much.

The rest of the day has to be filled with restorative activities, otherwise I get stuck. And when I get stuck, I work on dumb stuff that is not the problem.