That’s why one of the greatest things I’ve done in my life is join The Entrepreneur’s Organisation six years ago and I have been a very active member and huge advocate since. Each member across the globe lives and breathes the same values and issues across business, family and life as a whole.
So, my philosophy on the rollercoaster ride is simple: The more often you get kicked in the guts, the stronger your guts become. A great entrepreneur is someone who has encountered much heartache and pain, equally as much as success, in my opinion.
Some are made with stronger guts than others based on their upbringing, although most people have a soft inside, which is why they don’t make the cut in business and 80% of businesses fail in the first five years.
Now here is how the rollercoaster ride looks once you’ve gained a few battle scars:
It’s a whole lot more mild.
You don’t feel the bumps as much. It’s, relatively, a walk in the park; although no day is ever a walk in the park! Nothing seems to surprise you. You come ready for battle. Your guts are now so much stronger that you feel you can handle more risk and even bigger surprises.
That’s where good mentors and leaders come in handy. They already have the battle scars. They’ve ridden the ups and the downs and can predict what lies ahead. They see patterns that inexperienced entrepreneurs don’t see and are often perceived as magicians! They can map out the course and know when the next bump is coming while knowing who to call when they stumble on an unforeseen bump.
They don’t teach this at university, but they should. I should start a subject for all business students called: “Expect the unexpected – handling the ups and downs in business.” People need to learn how it feels and then how to act, and this helps build resilience.
If someone says they have never failed, they are lying. While the great leaders and sportspeople may have achieved great success, their journey is full of bumps and scratches and their ability to overcome adversity and stay focused is what stands out.
This is the huge risk of putting someone with limited experience as a leader in a company or as captain of a sports team. I don’t like seeing 21-year-olds being made captain of an AFL club or a state cricket team. Sure they are great athletes, but as leaders with limited experience, I find it hard to believe they have ridden enough death-defying rollercoasters.
One of my young partners in a business came into my office the other day feeling stressed and I said, “I can tell which rollercoaster you are on.” He looked at me a bit funny, but then I explained what I’ve just written about. There’s no quick fix. It takes time and experience to smooth the bumps and I can appreciate and sympathise with the ride.
