Overcoming Obstacles Facing Your Business
Throughout the course of building a successful business it is inevitable that there will be obstacles to face, hurdles to jump and adversity form many angles; financial, personal, and social. The trials new business owners go through especially at the outset of beginning their product or service launch, is nothing short of intense. However, with the right mindset and strategy, the ability to persevere and brave the storm of adversity is possible.
When an individual or group decides to make the move and launch their dream business, the amount of pressure is palpable and obvious. Most leave stable jobs, invest their personal cash, as well as loads of time and commitment. As an entrepreneur your business does not simply become a new job; it is a new way of life. Living and breathing your brand day and night is the new normal, knowing your industry inside and out is pivotal, which includes countless hours and focus for research and development, staying up to date on trends and relevant consumer behaviors. All of that is just the tip of the iceberg.
It goes without saying being a business owner takes up a lot of time and effort. There is also a plethora of fluctuating variables both internally and externally, with the countless decisions and moving parts involved, invariably, something is certain to go awry. Whether an oversight, miscalculation or an outside supplier or partner unable to deliver can all cause a type of roadblock, thrusting an obstacle in the way of your journey to success.
Notice the term, obstacle or roadblock. What most neglect to realize is that adversity does not mean the end or failure, it is simply a delay blocking the path forward. In fact, the word adversity shares a strong commonality and is of the same origin for the French work l’averse which means storm or heavy rain. Just as a storm may seem perilous to a ship at sea, does not mean the end of the voyage, but a rough and treacherous stage or temporary delay on the journey.
It’s a question often asked, how to overcome adversity, the general answer is relatively simple: keep focus and never lose sight of the road ahead. It’s easy to stray off course when an obstacle comes, the key is to stay steadfast and navigate around the delay, because in reality all an obstacle is, is a delay in your process. The moment we view them as such, the easier it will be for us to stay on track. Just as a fallen tree may block a path and seem immovable, it will not be there forever, the same goes for the storm. With the proper equipment and effort, the tree can be safely moved, as with calculated navigation and study the ship can be controlled and the storm pass; the straight path opened again. Any obstacle a company is facing, whether it be financial, lack of supply, customers etc. are navigable all that is needed are the proper tools to clear the way so the mission can be continued.
Finding the tools to improvise, adapt and overcome any deviation is simpler than most think, they are found through external help or input, calling in assistance or expanding your network to provide tools for problem solving, by implementing effective strategy, thereby surmising strong solutions to continue forward.
Your network is your net worth, if you are unable to find a way to better a situation, be open and active to seek the knowledge, solution, investment or partnership to right the ship.
Unfortunately, many businesses lack the vision to see over the obstacles in front of them and take the setbacks as a complete stop to their business as opposed to a bump in the road or delay and see to the end to their business campaign. They sadly don’t seek the resources and alternatives in order to dig deep to move forward and relent to turn back down the path once they came never to try again.
What separates the companies who successfully triumph over roadblocks or obstacles is the ability to persevere. Building any brand to scale takes time and effort. Even the largest companies like Apple or Amazon are still growing and innovating. You must think of business as a journey with a goal of constant growth, not as a destination, that once reached, the journey ends. Complacency, or contentedness are the killers of dreams. The aforementioned companies or any member for the Fortune 500 do not stop, they will continue on the road towards growth and yes, along the way, run into significant adversity bust their ability to effectively navigate them through constant resolve will keep them at the top.
The main point is to understand that setbacks will occur, sacrifices will be made, but the overarching principle is to have a vision to overlook the obstacles, and at the road ahead to understand that a business is a constant expedition filled with many hills and valleys, learning, growing and innovating. Remember that there is no end to a journey towards infinite success, brave the storm, it will pass, and the course become clear once again.
To gain personalized guidance for your business on this topic and others contact us.
- Vince Calace
Founder - Venture Business Development