Herman School of Business
Heading For The Wrong Roof...
Matt responded to the blog posting yesterday and raised an issue many people face. You have to read yesterday’s blog (below this posting) to “get it” but for those too stubborn to read it…the short version is that the roof is your goal and the ladder is how you get there. The comment Matt left is a question…what do you do if you are halfway up the ladder and realize you are heading for the wrong roof.
Well readers…this is actually quite a common occurrence.
Many people take off down a path towards a goal they feel is really what they want. It looks all good and shiny way down the path and you take off running towards it. But as you get closer and closer you see the object of your desire a little more clearly. Maybe that job you were striving for comes with too many negative issues…maybe the small business you run won’t make the money you dreamed of…maybe your goal to run a marathon was way too much to actually achieve.
What do you do when you are halfway through the climb, the run, or whatever metaphor you like to use…and you realize you don’t want what you are working for anymore?
This is the easiest question I have ever had to answer.
You climb back down the ladder, or stop running, or stop putting all of your energy into something you no longer want to accomplish…and unwind what you have started so you can look for another goal. Please go to my book HERMANISMS and see the one about the smoke detectors going off warning you that you are in danger.
By far the biggest mistake I saw in 1,000 cases of failing enterprises was the unwillingness of the owner to face the reality of the situation and give up that goal and look for another one. When people invest huge sums of money, or small sums but all they have…and then they work until they are exhausted and worn out…they feel they have to keep going because there is no energy or money left to start over on something new. Well, guess what…continuing the path of failure, or the climb up the ladder to a goal you no longer want or can achieve just means you are delaying the inevitable failure or unhappiness and that just wastes time and the last bit of energy you have anyway.
When people are “on top” and are “winning” they certainly have the benefit of high energy and a positive attitude, while the tired, failing, and often broke individual wonders how they can muster starting over. But…let me assure you…a few days after you decide to “stop” a failing effort something happens…you feel a load lift off of you, you feel your brain crackle with joy at the thought of no more pounding your head against the wall. Tomorrow I will address the mechanics of stopping and starting over…but today get this message loud and clear…if you are halfway up the ladder and realize the rest of the climb is fruitless…reverse the climb…climb back down…and look for a new roof.
- Posted: 16 April 2009
- Comments: 1
- Category: Running a business
Herman,
I think this article is relevant to this topic http://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/5969.html
It’s titled “Goals Gone Wild: The Systematic Side Effects of Over-Prescribing Goals Setting,”
If people get too entrenched in their goals they will fail to see other opportunities around them. I’m going through this right now. I’m trying to decide if I should pursue my passion, which could lead to less pay or continue talks with a business owner about taking over her company.
Written by Richard on 16 April 2009