“Everyone has a plan until I punch them in the face” Mike Tyson
When we started Virtus Performance, we started with a plan.
I soon realised, and am reminded of this most weeks, that a plan only gets you so far.
You can plan perfectly, make sure every detail is taken care of, ensure that everything will run smoothly and then life happens.
Plans are a fantastic starting point, but if you rely on it 100% you will fail.
Unfortunately life and business don’t work the same way as a perfect plan.
As bear Grylls would say, adapt, improvise, overcome. This, of course, does not always have to end in you drinking your own urine.
Being an entrepreneur, business owner, athlete or expert in your field takes resilience, persistence and consistently showing up.
I believe it takes three things to persevere through the tough times.
1. Remind yourself why you started.
If you remember your purpose, your mission and your vision. It’s simply impossible to give up. If you don’t have one yet. That is more than okay. Just start, experience, find things you hate, find things you love, you’ll figure it out, just stay the course.
2. Take Action
Good things don’t come to those who wait, good things come to those who make things happen. I truly believe that all of the amazing things that have happened to me, both personally and professionally, have come to fruition because I took action. Because I didn’t wait and see.
However, it is important to understand the things you can control and those that you cant. The way you are, think, act, react is under your control. The way other people do, not even one bit.
Be sure to act upon the things you can control, and remember that sometimes the best action to take is inaction.
(Hows that for an oxymoron)
3. Lean on your allies Mentors, friends, family.
Admit you know nothing and ask for help, guidance and advice.
World leading hedge fund manager Ray Dalio looks at problems as ‘Another one of those’ meaning that of all the issues and difficulties you will encounter, there is a 99.9% chance that is something that has already been figured out.
Fortunately, we are not the unique little snowflakes we sometimes believe ourselves to be.
So here’s the thing. you should 100% have a plan,
BUT.
Be mindful that if it doesn’t work out exactly as you want (and it won’t) don’t be disheartened, adjust, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and carry on.
"No one succeeds without effort… Those who succeed owe their success to perseverance.
Create your own luck."
Ramana Maharshi