I Hate This Business

These words will either shock or resonate with you.

Nothing great was ever built without passion and generally businesses are founded and built fuelled by passion and enthusiasm. Founders are often blessed with boundless energy that allows them to get more done in less time than normal humans. Fuelled by an internal drive and passion it is almost inevitable that the business will scale and grow- although not always in the best way.

So why is it that so many leaders get to a position of hating what they have built, of dreading waking up and having to face another day of hell, of despising their business and the people they have to work with?

It is more common than you might think, and it is unbelievably painful, and not just for the leader.

One reason is that we live in a world that is changing rapidly and that is never more true than in a business that is growing. That growth can often have unintended and unplanned consequences.

A new hire may totally change the culture of the business. A new investor might throw the dynamics off kilter and even the launch of a new product can totally destabilize the ship and then suddenly the environment can become alien and hostile. Because the leader is so deeply connected with the business it can suddenly start to feel like a prison where she is facing a life sentence.

Of course it is never suddenly. In reality it is slowly over time and then all at once, but like the boiling frog story the changes happen slowly without our noticing until we are trapped. Often, we try to self-medicate with caffeine, alcohol, food and other unhelpful behaviours which only serve to worsen the situation.

It doesn’t have to be this way. There are several things you can do.

Here are some questions to start the thought process.

• Who do you have in your corner helping you to navigate these changes?
• Who is watching your back while you are driving forward?
• Do you have an unreasonable yet compassionate friend in your corner?
• Who do you trust to trade in the truth with you?
• Who gives you beneficial perspective?

If you need any help, reach out

Many successful business owners eventually hit a wall on growth and struggle to climb it alone. When you work with me you get a fresh perspective, a solid plan, and customised coaching so you can grow and scale your business safely and at speed.