Will You Make The Sacrifice?
If you worry about what you are giving up for your career or business, then it’s time to get out.
Never let anyone talk to you about the sacrifices they make, even if they are real and justifiable… if any entrepreneur believes they are sacrificing anything on the way to the top, they won’t get there.
Having said that, there are sacrifices that can become too much for any person which will eventually lead them to question their direction in life.
Time In The Trenches
I’ve heard experts say it takes 10,000 hours to master a skill. The time you devote to your business is something to love rather than be treated as a chore. 10,000 hours is obviously a huge commitment but certainly not impossible for a serious entrepreneur. No doubt there will be years of blood, sweat and tears and you will be challenged by partners, family and loved ones, but it will be done without regret and you will reap the rewards.
Family and Friends
Family and friends will be put on hold while career aspirations take priority. You may miss family milestones… 21st birthdays, weddings and even the birth of your own children. This is probably the biggest negative to a entrepreneurial life, but the positives still outweigh the negatives.
Where Have I Been?
You could put the “real world” on hold for up to 15 years in order to develop your business to those stratospheric levels that only a few achieve. You may get left behind in other professional areas and there are few favours handed out in business these days. You may become isolated from other colleagues and competitors and this may cause hard times if you decide to change careers at a later date.
Living In The Cocoon
A successful career can be lived in a total cocoon. Frequently, towards the end of a successful career, an entrepreneur can become more aware of the sacrifices they have made and may decide to retire from the fast life. Their children are grown up, business is a chore and their intensity starts to wane. Their priorities change and the younger crowd are eager to take their place.
If you have a sense of sacrifice in anything you do you are probably in the wrong game
If you have a sense of sacrifice in anything you do you are probably in the wrong game. Enjoy what you do and you have a greater chance of success. Life can be so easy to enjoy if you make the choice.
There are others that make the supreme sacrifice in their chosen professions. Defence Forces, Police, Fire and Rescue… a bad day in these professions may cost you your life. Have you ever heard these people complain about the sacrifices they make?
Tags: business coaching, career, personal development, will you make the sacrifice
