One of the qualities that successful entrepreneurs share is the capacity for paradox management. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the need to be both patient and impatient at the same time. Impatience is necessary to keep things moving, but it carries a danger with it and can lead to quitting too soon.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So why does it take so long to see progress? Before you declare failure, consider these reasons:<\/p>\n
\u00b0 Idea needs tweaking.<\/strong> You start a new project thinking your customers are retirees and nothing happens. Then you begin getting inquiries from golfers and shift your marketing to reach more of them. That\u2019s a classic example of right idea, wrong market. Here\u2019s where some Joyfully Jobless friends can be helpful, showing you options that you missed.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n \u00b0 Need to grow into the bigger vision.<\/strong>\u00a0When things aren’t working out, many people think there’s something they must do<\/strong>, but often it’s something they must be<\/strong> that solves the problem.<\/p>\n The best reason for dreaming bold and following through on that dream is what we become as a result. If we\u2019re not willing to acquire the skills and mindset of our best self, and invest time in getting there, our ultimate goal will be stalled. Eventually, it will disappear.<\/p>\n \u00b0 Missed a step.<\/strong> Here\u2019s where impatience can get in the way. Trying to jump from Point A to Point L doesn\u2019t work. When a project is in limbo, retrace your steps and see if you left something out, something that needs to be included to produce the final result.<\/p>\n \u00b0 Miscalculated the time it would take.<\/strong> I can never decide if it\u2019s naive or arrogant to think that we can predict the timeline of something we\u2019ve never done before. An old proverb says, \u201cGoing slow does not prevent arriving.\u201d That\u2019s a good proverb to recall as you inch ahead.<\/p>\n \u00b0 Ahead of the market.<\/strong> It\u2019s not unusual for a new idea to take time to catch on. If you\u2019re offering something that hasn\u2019t been available before, the marketplace may need to learn more about the benefits they\u2019ll receive or, even, rethink an old notion. Sharon Rowe is a perfect example of that. In 1989 she started importing reusable shopping bags. She was about 20 years ahead of time. Today, however, her Eco-Bags Products<\/a> is a multimillion dollar operation.<\/p>\n