Creating Momentum in Your Business Part I of III

"Keep Your Eyes on the Prize"

I was recently at an equine expo listening to a clinician talk about the importance of forward momentum in horseback riding (bear with me here, you don't have to be an equestrian to get the gist of this message).

One of the participants commented, "You don't know how difficult forward is until you lose it."

Isn't that the truth? How many of you can relate to this in your business? You're humming along just fine, the business seems to be going through all the correct stages of growth, and then one day, you realize you've hit a brick wall.

Your business isn't going anywhere and you're surrounded by clients that chose you instead of the other way around; suddenly you're a slave to what used to be your passion, and you're just plain tired.

To top it off, it seems like the more energy you put into your business, the more it takes out of you until you just don't have any more to give.

Are you there right now?

Well, let me share a secret with you...the only way to get out of this tired circle is by gathering forward momentum.

Yes, it's easier said than done, but there is something you can do right now that will start creating a shift in your life.

Consider this analogy: Have you ever tried to drive a car while staring out the side window? It's tough to keep your vehicle headed in a straight line because your hands want to follow your eyes. This is a very literal illustration of Energy flows where attention goes. Do not underestimate this power in your business; the direction in which you're focused is the direction your business is headed.

Where are you focusing your attention as we enter 2009?

If you're staring out the side windows at your competitors, the market, and other train wrecks along the way, you may still be moving forward, but you're going to exert a lot more energy doing it. Plus, you'll move in a wobbly forward line, and it's common sense that a straight line will get you from A to B faster.

Even worse, if you're focused on the past - the decisions you could have made or the opportunities you bypassed - it's like driving and staring in the rear view mirror. Pretty soon, you're going to hit a tree, or a telephone pole, and then you'll be stalled for a long time while you fix the damage.

So, the first key to creating forward momentum is to pick a destination, point yourself towards it, and don't move your eyes! Wear blinders if necessary, and put one foot in front of the other.

Hiring a coach to keep you in check can be crucial in this first stage as you adopt new habits.