Recently, I spoke at an event an organization was sponsoring for its top franchisees. Each person in attendance ran a business that generated at least hundreds of thousands – and for most, multiple millions – of dollars in revenue. As a bonus for the best franchisees, the leader of the group mentioned that they were going to make it available for a few of them to have me to come to their respective businesses and work with their teams.
Guess who was the first to jump up and make it happen? The owner of the most successful business in the room.
Want to guess who did not accept the organization’s generous offer? The owners of the least successful businesses in the room.
This isn’t an unusual occurrence. Those who grow great businesses jump on ideas and programs to make their organizations better. Those who are less successful – for some strange reason – tend to think they don’t have time to learn and train themselves and their teams. They attribute the success of others – selling the same product at the same price in the same region – as luck (“I was dealt a lesser hand of cards to play…”), the economy, or anything other than their own lack of commitment and effort.
Please don’t misunderstand – it’s not about whether they chose me or not. That’s not what I’m suggesting in the least. The leader of the organization remarked to me before the offer was made that it never fails: regardless of the possibility or promotion, the best performers take advantage of every opportunity immediately; the laggards seldom, or not at all.
So – how about YOU? When something doesn’t work out for you…personally or professionally…or your organization faces a difficult time or task – do you seize opportunity or keep grinding it out the way you’ve always done it?
Too many of us attribute declining success to a lack of intensity. We decide we’re going to “hustle” and “crush it” by rededicating our efforts to harder work and a stronger push.
The problem is this: working harder on the wrong plan won’t generate more profitable results.
The challenge for all of us is to jump at opportunity, be willing to learn and alter our approach, and be a model of growth for those who depend upon our leadership.
