As an entrepreneur, I know that my team members have to find meaning in their work. They have to feel like their work has purpose. They have to know, believe and feel that what they are doing today is helping make the world a better place. It’s our job as the leaders of our organizations to paint the picture. Encourage. Motivate. Inspire. Build to bring that picture to reality. But, what happens when a leader loses hope in the vision? What happens when the leader feels meaningless? What should you do?
NS4L (New Scooters 4 Less) was recognized more times in the last year than it ever has been for all the hard work, giving, impact and good it has done within the community. My team has been absolutely incredible. We have sold more scooters in the last year than ever before. We opened a second store. We are initiating multiple new team benefits as we roll into 2016 (and even offering our part-time high school and college students paid time off and profit-sharing)! We’re growing! What’s better than that? On paper, things are better than ever. Yet, I have felt very empty inside. Unfulfilled. Meaningless.
I keep questioning myself…Is there more to this little scooter dealership in Gainesville, Florida? Do I really believe that this business can change the world? Am I fulfilling my purpose? I tell myself that I haven’t done enough. I start to lose faith.
Do you ever feel this way? I think as entrepreneurs, it is natural for us to be really hard on ourselves and lose sight of where we are going. We forget our “why?” and the reason we started to begin with. So, what do we do?
Reflect. Be thankful for what you have. Look back at where you started. I can always find meaning in my journey. It is easy to get wrapped up in what we don’t have, and we often forget about what we do have. Look through old pictures and see how far you have come. I do this for myself and with my team on occasion. Many team members only see the business as what it is today and may not appreciate the blood, sweat and tears it took to get this far. However, when I sit down and show them pictures and tell stories of the way things used to be, they get a much deeper appreciation.
Be patient and play the long game. In a world where it seems like startups are going from zero to billions overnight, it is easy to get discouraged. Overnight success is a perception, not a reality. Know that anything worth having is going to take lots of hard work, time and patience.
NS4L is a piece of my long-term vision. Do I simply want to own a little scooter dealership in Gainesville, Florida, my whole life? Of course not. I want to build a customer service empire. NS4L is one of the vessels being used to teach me how to lead, build and influence others. There is significant meaning in this “little” company when you look at the long game.
Lean on others. Entrepreneurship can be lonely. OK, it can be really lonely. Just like we build teams to fulfill our vision, we have to build a support network that will help pick us up when we are down. You can’t do it all alone. The support and encouragement of others is critical. Of course, friends and family are a vital part to any support network, but seek advice, mentorship and a shoulder to cry on from other entrepreneurs who have gone or are going through your same circumstances.
Just start serving. Be a shoulder for someone else to cry on. Simply start helping others in need. I find meaning in picking up my neighbor’s newspaper off the driveway for her, knowing that she has a hard time because of her back. I sit down with students, startups and others seeking help. Serving has allowed me to find a deeper purpose when I hit those lulls.
Be transparent and vulnerable. One Friday morning, during “Coffee with Collin” (optional coffee meetings we have where team members can get together with me to discuss what is on their minds), I got emotional talking about the future of our company. I was in tears as I expressed that I believe we are creating the foundation for a company where none of us will be alive to see its greatest years. The thought is hard to wrap my mind around, yet something I truly believe. Again…playing the long game. Being transparent and vulnerable with my team helped me remember the meaning in what we are building. It also allows my team to feel it and believe in it, too.
It is so easy to get derailed, distracted and let life’s challenges prevent you from fulfilling that vision and staying true to your “why.” Remembering and practicing these little tips will help keep you on the right track. Oh…and if you need someone to lean on through your journey, give me a shout.