I’m failing at more things than you think…
Business Owners & Managers Have A Choice: Innovate or Wither on the Vine
One thing I’ve become very comfortable with as a 32 year old business owner is failure. I hate failing – really HATE it! But every failure shows I am moving and gets me closer to the next success, as I learn!
I think too many business owners slowly wither on the vine because they stop trying things.
They wait for certainty or until someone else proves it works first.
Business and personal growth rarely works like that. Growth occurs from trying, learning and trying again! You won’t remember but this is how you learned to walk – stand up, fall over, stand up, step, fall and repeat until you were able to walk. But you were not afraid of falling!
Look at my year to date:
- Thirsty Thursday → Win
- Between the Fitness Business Podcast Seasons → Win
- REX Leadership Academy AU → Win
- Cold emails to gym owners → Failing
- Outsourced social media posting → Failed
- Calls to action on the Fitness Business Podcast → Fail
- Weekly REX videos, emails and social posts → Failing
- Mystery Shopping Top Gun Awards → Mixed
And then there’s the stuff that’s simply too early to know:
- Mystery Shopping AI reports
- Friends In Fitness collaboration website for business owners
Failure definitely frustrates me but doesn’t embarrass me nor deter me.
Every failed idea teaches me at least one thing. Every attempt sharpens my thinking for the next idea. Every “that didn’t work” gets me closer to something that will.
The real risk in business isn’t trying something that fails. It’s becoming predictable, comfortable and stale. And while you’re standing still, someone else is experimenting, learning and adapting.
Trying new things can feel uncomfortable but sales growth, innovation and momentum rarely come from playing safe.
Your weekly challenge:
What have you tried this year? How many successes compared to fails did you have? Have you tried enough?
As the great philosopher, Rocky Balboa said, “It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward; how much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!”
Justin is the Managing Director of Active Management, which he began January 2004. He offers coaching to businesses worldwide in everything from start up and design to marketing and sales systems. Justin also facilitates four Australian and New Zealand ‘fitness industry roundtables’ events, which allows him to see a huge cross section of business models.