Last week I was talking with an entrepreneur I mentor who, though by most measures a very successful guy, has been struggling with financial issues for a while. Through persistence and hard work we had finally managed to get him to a point where he could take the time to address these problems and build a solid foundation for himself. Strangely enough, though, he was resisting.
The idea was for him to stay with the new six-figure gig he had just landed, draw up a plan to deal with some outstanding debts, and take a year to establish some sound financial habits. At the end of a year he would have a solid foundation that would enable him to continue doing what he loves: creating awesome products.
In addition, he was planning on selling most of his stuff, ditching his U.S-based apartment, and traveling through Central and South America for the year.
Sounds pretty good, right? The problem was that the thought of “a year” was intimidating, and he was afraid other opportunities were going to pass him by. A real estate deal here, a very promising product or partnership there…he was being buffeted from all sides with gems more tantalizing than spending a year working on his weaknesses.
Welcome to the Snow Globe from Hell.
Fuck the Fear of Missing Out (“FFOMO”)
My friend was afraid he was going to miss out if he spent a year working on himself. Once we thought it through, though, this fear didn’t make a hell of a lot of sense.
First, he is one of those people that creates an endless stream of projects, partnerships, and ideas. He’s always investing in himself and in his network. For him, ignoring opportunities for a year doesn’t mean that they will vanish forever. His habits and work ethic virtually guarantee that doors will always open for him. The “once-in-a-lifetime” chance is a mythical, bullshit creature. Life is full of open doors for those who invest in themselves.
Second, if he didn’t spend time shoring up this massive skills gap he was NEVER going to be able to focus all of his energy on any of the opportunities that came up. He was hobbled by this particular weakness, and in order to become an effective entrepreneur and more importantly, a happy human being, he had to resolve it.
Focusing on One Thing is Fucking Hard
Everything is shiny and interesting at first, but once you’ve spent time digging into, getting frustrated by, and hammering on it, it’s not long before everything else looks preferable.
It’s easier and, in the short term, much more fun to chase new opportunities. If you spend all your time with your tongue hanging out running after cars it takes a while before you realize that you haven’t caught any.
What matters, what changes lives, what confers real power, is depth. Scraping the surface over and over again gives you nothing that everyone else doesn’t already have. Being inside the Snow Globe hinders you from digging very deep because your head is forever on a swivel.
Now What?
You don’t have to be helplessly stuck inside the Snow Globe. You can go deep and achieve something big, amazing, and audacious.
First, list all the things on which you could or should be working. What excites you? What do you suck at? What intimidates you or holds you back?
Next, choose the project or task that will have the biggest impact on your life. Which one would, if completed, make everything else unnecessary or at least a hell of a lot easier?
Get the input of those who know you best. Ask them which project they think is most important for you.
TIP: The thing that that intimidates you most should probably be at the top of your list. My friend desperately needed to devote his time to developing good financial habits but he’d had no interest in doing so for years. It was scary and impenetrable. If there’s something hanging over your head that terrifies you, that should be your first priority.
Finally, clear your schedule of all those other projects. There should be nothing on your calendar except your day job, family, and your project.
Don’t let the day-to-day storm of distractions keep you from building the life you deserve. Figure out what’s most important and chase it down. You will struggle, you will get knocked off course, and you will fall flat on your face.
Don’t stop. Pick yourself up and keep going. You’re worth it.