You: the Leader
The Situation: The business is in a start-up mode, or a re-directed mode, and everyone seems to be struggling too much.
Preamble: You don’t know whether you should:
- send everyone home so you can concentrate on getting some work done or
- crack the whip
- take another shot at leading with passion and inspiration
As you are just about to make the right choice, the following thoughts hit you…
Running a business is a different thing than talking about running a business.
Consider ‘talking the talk’ and ‘walking the walk’.
Running a business is, by the words themselves, definitely something more than ‘talking the talk’. In fact it must be something more fast-paced than ‘walking the walk’. Nobody says, “Hey, let’s go and walk a business.” People always say, “Run a business.” Just taking the words as they are, ‘running a business’ must be about ‘Running the Run’. That’s more than and better than either ‘talking the talk’ or ‘walking the walk’.
‘Running the Run’ is clearly cranking it up a notch.
‘Running the Run’ is about giving the business an out-of-the-blocks chance to get over the 80/20 Business-Failure hurdle. It is about giving the business a fighting chance to be there for the tough race that lies ahead.
Like any other ‘race’, ‘Running a business’ is about mental toughness. It is about training. It is about competing. It is about understanding what it takes to win. It is then about doing what it takes to win.
‘Thinking the think’ is the right first step: Napoleon Hill, for example helps in this area by showing us how to spend time obtaining the value of thought and autosuggestion.
‘Talking the talk’ can be a good next step too: Muhammad Ali, for example, showed the link between thought and talk and results. He said, “I am the greatest.” Then he proved it.
After ‘talking the talk’, ‘walking the walk’ is a required next step: consider the great leader Mahatma Gandhi.... now that guy was a talker and a walker. And, from what I know about him, he ranks as my favourite lawyer.
But, ‘Running the Run’...that’s where the rubber hits the road. Actually, that’s more than a just a metaphor. That’s double entendre...maybe even triple.
"
Running the Run"…now these 4 fellows could really
run the run…
- Achilles (who got the eternal fame history tells us he craved)
- Roger Bannister (who did what was impossible…he broke the 4:00 minute mile)
- Forrest Gump...not only did that guy get lots of money, but even though he acted a little strange everybody seemed to really like him and he ended up getting an Oscar for it.
- Terry Fox...A Canadian inspiration…got himself on a coin. Not many Canadians have done that.
With that running the run inspiration completed.....
Are you prepared to do what it takes to ‘Run the Run’ for your business?
I mean: Do you really want to run your own business? As Napoleon Hill said, is your desire white-hot, burning? Or is that just talk? Just a wishful dream?
Nothing wrong with dreaming....as long as you know and admit you are asleep while it is happening.
White-hot desire….tough to sleep through that!