Clarity eats hustle for breakfast
Hard work is a distraction
“Clarity eats hustle for breakfast". Such an important understanding for entrepreneurs.
Long hours and hard work are important - when they're needed. Too often they're not needed. The alternative feels vulnerable, so we hide from ourselves in grind.
Hard work is a highly effective distraction, or perhaps it feels important to the identity we're trying to earn, or it can be a way of saying we did all we could so that we can avoid taking responsibility for what we know.
I've spent a year working the kind of hours that would seriously concern me if I expected them of any colleague. Much of it has felt energising and I take that as a signal I was on track. Some of it has felt off though and I know, even if I can't articulate it, that in those times I was avoiding something.
One thing I've learned this year is to build muscle for "not doing". I have dozens of things I "should" work on, but there's really only one that matters. My shoulds are a comfort blanket and a gravitational escape slide. Monotasking feels uncomfortable, which is when hiding in long hours becomes attractive. Facing the fear and doing it anyway has been a big part of this year's growth.
When I take courage, let go of my noise and dig into the vulnerability of what matters it feels like stepping into a cold shower first thing in the morning. Half way through I'm seriously wondering what on earth I'm doing this for and whether I really should be doing something more "important".
Just like a cold shower though, as I get through, it starts to feel exhilarating and as I come out the other side I'm proud of myself for embracing uncomfortable and I build strength for the next time.
Growth is how we build our capacity to succeed and it takes courage to grow. So building courage - doing the inner work, is how we create the outer results we want.
Find me on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/davidcarboni
