You can sprint over short distances. You can jog over long distances. You can\u2019t do both.<\/p>\n
Every athlete will corroborate this point.<\/p>\n
A sprinter would suck at a marathon. She or he would not last 1% of the race.<\/p>\n
A marathoner would not even be \u2018off the blocks\u2019 by the time the other sprinters have crossed the finishing line. But they would be able to continue for much longer and further than a sprinter.<\/p>\n
Which one would you rather be?<\/p>\n
Learning no 23:
\n<\/b>Run a marathon, not a sprint.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
<\/i><\/b>When you begin, you will feel like sprinting through and through, because in the enthusiasm of starting your venture, everything looks like a piece of cake.<\/p>\n
The initial response is always positive and encouraging.<\/p>\n
Everything seems to be within reach and just needs you to stretch a little.<\/p>\n
Then you will hit the phase where you reach a slowdown. You will realize then, that the world does not move at your pace. The initial positivity leads to fatigue as you fight one battle after another.<\/p>\n
In such a scenario it is important to pace yourself\u2026 not outpace yourself.<\/p>\n
Rome was not built in a day. For any business to establish itself, you will need to factor in a gestation period.<\/p>\n
You can control the speed with which you deliver, but you cannot control the speed with which you will be accepted by clients.<\/p>\n
You can control your turnaround time. But you cannot control your customers\u2019 turn around times.<\/p>\n
You can control how quickly you expand your team. You cannot control how quickly they will be able to take over from you.<\/p>\n
You can control how to make a convincing sales pitch. But you can\u2019t control the speed of the sale.<\/p>\n
Being in a hurry is good in certain circumstances. Not in running a business.<\/p>\n
Be prepared to run slower, but longer. Because that is what will keep you afloat, waiting and ready to reap the benefits of your perseverance.<\/p>\n
Patience is a trait that is inherent in most successful businessmen.<\/p>\n
And patience is a virtue that, as they say, is very difficult to find.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
TO BE CONTINUED\u2026
\n(This is part 21 of a series of blogs on my learnings as an entrepreneur )<\/p>\n
photo credit: tokyoform<\/a> via photopin<\/a> cc<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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