Why Startup Founders Fail: The Constant Frustration

Getting your business in shape is a lot like getting your body in shape

image by rawpixel

I’m one of the most patient people you’ll ever meet. Until I’m not. Then all bets are off.

One of the reasons I’ve been somewhat successful in business is that I’m persistent to a fault. I will keep doing the same thing and expecting a different result until someone has to tell me that what I’m doing is the definition of insanity.

“I’m aware of that,” I’ll spit back. “Let’s just try it one more time.”

But everyone has their limits. And no matter what it is I’m doing — whether it’s business, or a hobby, or that old chestnut — getting in shape — that limit is somewhere at the end of a long flat line indicating zero progress over a period of days or weeks or even months.

Here’s what real life has taught me about how to lead through the stagnation of your business.

Like almost every single person in the world, I choose a time between Christmas and Arbor Day to really seriously start working out for real this time.

I’m actually rather adamant about it, and it’s become a part of my life. I’ve got a sweet, dirty gym setup in my garage and I live in a neighborhood with a nice half-mile loop…