I’m looking out the window at green grass and sunshine, the snow of last week is long gone, and yet, it’s December. The holidays are but a breath away, and before we know it, 2015 will be but a memory. It’s in these moments that I like to take a step back, get above and clear and take a tree stand view of my year. Did I accomplish what I set out to do? Am I moving forward toward the goals I set for myself, the same way our esteemed Governor Rick Snyder is moving Michigan “Forward”?
This was a pivotal year for me. My boys are getting bigger by the minute, and my companies are growing as well, in both size and opportunity. Just like in the great outdoors, changes in business can be as subtle as the leaves turning from green to red to gold or as bombastic as the storm that put 10 inches of snow on the lawn by morning.
As a hunter, a father and an entrepreneur, I know the key to facing change is to stay focused on my desired outcome and to be flexible; a “bend so you don’t break” attitude is essential on the hunt for success. I’ve been in conversations with colleagues where they are beating themselves up about not hitting a target, even though they have made considerable progress toward it throughout the year. As I listen to them, I realize that I do the exact same thing.
That’s why getting above and clear is so important. When you are in it, it’s hard to see the big picture. It’s vital to get out of a negative space, blaming yourself for coming up short. Whether the pace of your hunt has been modest or substantial, progress is progress. And as every entrepreneur knows, building a business is about the journey. Every step on your hunt leads to the next, so recognize that each increment gets you closer to what you want most. Keep moving FORWARD, hunters!
