Find Your Pace: Building Success in Business and Life

Discover how to find your pace in business and life. Achieve success sustainably and achieve more with this article by Andrew De Groot.

“It’s not how and where you start, it’s how and where you finish.”

Finding your pace is crucial. Today, we’re going to discuss the importance of creating a 90-day plan for your business and how it can help you build a sustainable and profitable enterprise that works even when you’re not there. Some of you may already have your goals in mind, while others may feel lost and directionless. The reason we focus on a 90-day plan is that it strikes the perfect balance between giving you enough time to achieve significant milestones and maintaining the laser-like focus required for success.

Frank Dick, a renowned motivational coach in the world of sports, once said, “Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.” This sentiment underlines our discussion today, emphasising the importance of finding your pace.

Take, for instance, the inspiring story of Femke Bol during the Budapest 2023 athletics event. She was initially aiming for three gold medals but faced a devastating setback in the mixed 4 x 400 relay when she fell and dropped the baton. Her mistake wasn’t falling; it was her overly fast start that left her with exhausted legs at the end. However, just a day later, Femke Bol won the gold in the 400m hurdles. She ran at her own pace, refusing to compare herself to others. She understood that it’s okay if your current best is 20 seconds for a 100m sprint; the key is to focus on improving, even if it’s just shaving off a single second in the next month.

By her third race, she emerged victorious from an unexpected position. This remarkable journey illustrates the essence of finding your pace.

Now, let’s shift our focus to our upcoming big event, BizX 2024, in Liverpool. With speakers like Piers Linney, Donald Miller, Andy Bounds, and Michael Heppell confirmed for April next year, it’s a pivotal moment for ActionCOACH Exeter. It’s our World Athletics event in the business world!

But before we look forward, let’s reflect on our recent successes. What were your biggest wins from the last quarter, and why were they wins? This introspection will help you identify the causes of your victories and instill the discipline needed to replicate them in the coming quarter. Remember, luck is when opportunity meets preparation.

ActionCOACH Exeter community success stories

• Kieran’s success came from implementing a CRM system and hiring a VA, which streamlined processes and saved valuable time.
• Duncan improved his sales process by creating a flowchart and refining email communication, resulting in an increased conversion rate.
• Datel Dave made strides in renewable energy, even managing a five-week break while his business ran smoothly.
• Cloudhill achieved a significant milestone with a large-scale production, surpassing a more expensive competitor in quality.
• Andy Routledge conquered a personal goal by mastering an advanced surfing wave experience.

Find your pace, sustain high performance

Now, let’s delve into the importance of pace in sustaining high performance. Your pace is a critical factor in achieving your goals, as it helps you avoid burnout, maintain motivation, and ensure consistent progress. It also allows those around you, such as your team, clients, and family, to adapt and thrive alongside you. Burnout is the enemy of productivity, self-care, and mental health. To avoid it, you must be kind to yourself and understand your energy levels. Maintaining motivation means prioritising quality over quantity. Would you rather onboard 20 clients hurriedly, or take your time to provide high-quality service to a select few?

Building resilience requires focusing on the positive aspects of your journey, as it takes three times more positive feedback to counteract negative impacts on performance. Consistency is key. Do you have a default diary for working on your business? A steady pace helps you avoid feast-and-famine cycles. Balancing work and life becomes achievable when you find your pace, allowing you to enjoy the journey. Learning and adaptation are facilitated by a steady pace. Avoid being the bull in a china shop by making gradual changes. Enjoyment of the journey is enhanced when you find the right pace. Embrace the process, whether it’s a business endeavour or a personal goal, like running a 5km race.

Finding your pace with habit formation

Stress reduction is a positive outcome of pacing yourself. The right amount of pressure drives high performance, while no pressure leads to stagnation, and excessive pressure causes chaos.

Long-term habit formation is powered by pace. According to Charles Duhigg’s book, forming a habit takes between 21 to 32 days of continuous effort. Finding your pace is the key to achieving success in both business and life. It ensures sustainable growth, prevents burnout, and allows you to enjoy the journey while building valuable habits. So, as we prepare for BizX 2024, remember the wisdom of Frank Dick: “Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.”