The Path of Least Resistance
“Someone once said that the grass isn’t greener on the other side. It’s greener where you water it. I have been thinking about this statement and how it applies to business. As in relationships, we think of what could be while ignoring what is in business. We miss what’s right in front of us, wishing we had more, could do more, could earn more. We look for the bigger paycheck. We keep yearning for more, but sometimes this drive keeps us chasing paper. It has us chasing the bigger payout while ignoring the very things that can get us to where we say we want to be. And often continue to hit the wall wondering why the breakthrough isn’t happening. But, what if I told you that sometimes success could be found in what is right in front of you and not in “the more”? I call this the Path of Least Resistance.”
As an entrepreneur, this feeling is not unfamiliar to me. I accomplished my 10-year goals in 6 years and was on a path to growth. I felt unstoppable. Then COVID hit. In a matter of months, I had to significantly scale back operations, pivot my entire business model and reconsider what was important to me. This pivot was not easy, but I went back to the basics. I even opened up my business plan and found things I said I wanted to do but never did. Growth, at this moment, came to mean something else beyond having more physical locations. Growth now meant going deep, looking at what was right in front of me, and charting a new course. It was uncomfortable, but it had me re-opening doors that I had left behind in my pursuit of "the more."
I continue to interact with other entrepreneurs who had to pivot, some more successfully than others. For those who haven't made the pivot, I noticed one common theme: that people are being held back by the inability to live in the now and see the opportunities present in their current adversities. The fear of disruption has also invited a level of paralysis in their personal and business lives. My dad used to say "coulda, shoulda, woulda" when I would start to provide excuses for a perceived failure. At the time, I didn't understand what he meant. However, as I have matured, I have realized that our success is in the doing. Fear can paralyze us and stop the DOING. And, this paralysis shrinks our world of possibilities. It has us thinking of all the "coulda shoulda wouldas" (the other side) instead of focusing on the things right in front of us.
As an overthinker, I constantly remind myself that life is as simple or as difficult as I make it. Therefore, I continue to look for opportunities in all things, and when my back is against the wall, I utilize the following strategies for success.
Stay in the now - the process of building is a daily task. Start with the basics. Assess what you have now and how you can build on that. You have to keep putting in the work and be ok with where you are. As long as you have consistency in your efforts, you will see progress. Success isn't an event; it's a process and one that requires consistency. Get back to the basics.
Practice gratitude. The ability to see what you have and be grateful for it prepares you for a life of abundance. You cannot get more if you cannot recognize what you already have. Constantly looking at the more (the other side) without acknowledging what you have now is a sure way to block blessings. The universe doesn't respond to "I want". It doesn't even respond to "I need". It responds to your effort and the energy that you bring to even the simplest of tasks. It gives you more when you are ready to receive it. Readiness indicates recognition of what you have.
Ask for help. I participated in a program for entrepreneurs recently that made me realize just how much I needed to bring some additional focus to my business and certain areas that I ignored. They were usually areas where I was weaker in or in which I had no expertise. I am learning to be comfortable in what I don't know and seek help in areas where I need it. Get the help and use it to develop yourself in that area. If you need a specific skill, input, or expertise to make the most of the opportunities, then seek it out.
What if you changed strategy and took the path of least resistance? What if you could identify the low-hanging fruit and nurture it? If your back is against the wall, I encourage you to consider those things/opportunities giving you the most traction right now. Focus more on it. Develop it. Spend time with it. Water it. In these times, we need more focus. Don't get distracted by the chase. Riches don't happen overnight for most people. We don't all win the lottery, but we can develop our craft and dig deeper into the things within our reach. Nurture what you have and, I promise you, the payout will come.