Energy

That’s right. It’s not being clever, or strategic, or inventing some new software, because nothing works unless there is energy behind it.

I don’t care how good your idea is, if you don’t personally have bundles of drive, enthusiasm, and energy, then it is destined to fail.

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!”

― Sylvester Stallone, Rocky Balboa

Sometimes it’s going to feel like you are Sylvester Stallone and your team or family is the world trying to beat you down.

Here’s a classic example. You want to implement a new marketing channel and you call your team together to allocate who does what and when it needs done by.

Now your team, like all teams, have habits. They like their habits because they don’t need to think, and they will do everything in their power not to change their habits.

It’s your job to change those habits to new ones that incorporate new tasks for the new marketing channel. You need energy to see the new project through. You have to be pig-headed enough to overcome the reasons why they can’t do the extra work and get it done.

Trust me, it can be exhausting constantly making sure your team stays on track, but eventually once they realize that it’s easier to form new habits and do the extra work than it is to knock heads with you every day, you will begin to see the needle move.

That goes for you personally as well. There are always more opportunities than there is time and personal bandwidth. It’s easy to say yes to a good idea but hard to implement. That’s because there is only so much energy and focus you have, and if you spread yourself too thin, then nothing happens.

If you find yourself in a position where you are unwell, or you are not feeling like yourself, then do nothing. It’s better just to stay in a holding pattern until the right energy is there, because any project, regardless of how good it is, will fail unless there is the energy and a driving force behind it.

One other thing while I am on the topic. Stay away from people who kill your energy. There is always a well-meaning family member or business associate who just leaves you feeling tired after you spend some time with them. They seem to have a never-ending supply of problems or issues they want to share with you. This can be the kiss of death for your energy and focus.

Also, if you find that one of your team is constantly bringing down the mood of your team or some team members don’t want to shine because one of the team might make them feel uncomfortable, then it’s time to set that person free. There should be no room on your team for anyone that is not moving your business forward.

As an entrepreneur and business owner, one of the most important things you bring to the table is energy. If you want to know some of the other qualities that are important, then read the Leadership report below.

Mark McRae

If you are going to build a successful business of any kind of size, you need to know how to lead people. Download my latest FREE report and discover the Top 5 Secrets of Great Leaders. CLICK HERE to Download.

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