Feeling stuck in the middle of a plateau as a small business owner can be discouraging.
The endless hours of work and effort put in may leave you wondering if it's all worth it.
Do your work and you shall reinforce yourself.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
In his book "Mastery," George Leonard discusses the concept of incremental progress in any pursuit.
The idea is to focus on the process rather than fixating solely on the end result.
Yep, that's right, the mantra that we hear over and over of "enjoy the journey, not the destination" is a cliche for a reason, because it's all that truly matters.
Every task completed, and every obstacle overcome reinforces your skills, knowledge, and resilience. Even if it seems infinitesimal in the moment.
Plateaus are a natural part of the journey and can easily be overlooked and considered a form of stagnation.
But they actually offer an opportunity for growth, reflection, and refinement.
Even if it feels like you're not making significant strides, each new day and each new effort is building upon your foundation and strengthening your capabilities.
Success is not a linear path and is made up of many peaks and even more plateaus.
So, to stay optimistic when in a plateau phase remember to:
- Trust the process and have patience with yourself
- Celebrate the small wins when they occur
- Stay persistent and consistent with your workload
- Focus on the journey up until now
Take a quick moment to reflect on everything that got you to this new plateau and find solace in the fact that every action you take reinforces your skills and brings you closer to your goals.
New peaks will appear when you're ready so until then keep going, and your efforts will soon pay off.
