THE 5 STAGES

THE 5 STAGES

As many of you know, I once fought as an amateur in MMA. My Sensei once gave me an illustration as to why and how people attain their goals and he likened it to a lonely explorer. This past year, during the darkest hours of my business, my Sensei's wisdom revisited me like being hit in the head with a frying pan. I hope his astuteness resonates with you in the way it has for everyone I have shared this with.

1). UNINFORMED OPTIMISM

As you stand in awe of the majesty of the mountaintop laid out before you. The sun's gentle glow warms your face, and you have the idea of standing on top of that mountain. Looking out over the horizon there are some forests and jungles between you and your lofty goal, but crossing them should be a simple task, you think. You only see the good. That is natural, the victors write history and we understandably choose to ignore those who have unsuccessfully come before us.

2). INFORMED PESSIMISM

As you begin to walk further down this trail into the forest, you start to see some worrying things. People walk back up the trail in the opposite direction. Vicious animals peering out from behind vegetation, the mountaintop begins to fade from view, and skeletons of explorers long since gone litter the path ahead. Much of the appeal of the goal is now out of focus as you begin to appreciate the full scope of what's required to achieve it. It is no longer fun.

3). THE VALLEY OF DESPAIR

Now the sun is completely blotted out of the sky. Alone and cold you wonder if this is even possible, and if it is whether or not it is worth continuing. You are surrounded by evidence of failure and everything is going wrong. The only certainty is that the misery won't end. At this point, it appears as though everything has seemingly gone wrong. You only see the bad. This is the point where most young entrepreneurs either quit or get killed. Many will opportunity-hop through steps 1-3 never having the fortitude to press through. The time you spend in the valley of despair is correlated to the work you put in. Just because time passes does not mean the situation will end. Strong work ethic solves nearly everything.

4). INFORMED OPTIMISM

The tangled green web of vegetation begins to thin, as the base of the mountain becomes visible once more. Suddenly the task seems possible again. You now see and understand both the good and the bad. Whatever the cause of the valley of despair was, has now abated to some extent. With the bottleneck resolved, you will have a much greater appreciation of how your business model operates. Somewhere, deep within yourself, you know that you will see it through to the end - successfully.

5). ACHIEVEMENT

Thinking back to the first moment you conceived of this idea to stand atop the peak, you chuckle at your inability to grasp the difficulty of the task. The view is beautiful, but short-lived. Looking to your rear, you see another taller mountaintop previously concealed by the one you just summited. The journey continues.

The achievement of any meaningful goal should be celebrated. For, the path to that achievement was not easy. However, dwelling on victory has defeated many a man. Find a new target, and start advancing.

Stagnation = Death