Motion, progress, and change is hard. And it’s even harder, if not impossible, to do it alone.
No one is self-made.
I’ve seen company growth increase exponentially, double or triple growth, when founders eliminate the wrong “supporters” (advisors, board, mentors, team), and add people that can really help — and are committed to doing so.
Don’t ever call me a self-made man. Exceptional success is always the product of a lot of help from others — Arnold Arnold Schwarzenegger
Startups die, or limp along, without the right “positive supporters”, and too many high-potential founders take too long to learn this lesson.
Do you have strong “positive supporters”?
They can provide both the positive reinforcement when you make progress and the candid feedback when you revert to old behaviors — Marshall Goldsmith
Being open to difficult feedback is hard — you need to be willing to be uncomfortable, and open to change your behavior. To take tough love, and surround yourself with strong voices. To be wrong.
The first hurdle is you.
Practice a combination of humility and emotional detachment.
“Care about what other people think and you will always be their prisoner.”, said Lao Tzu.
To do this, you need radical awareness and the courage to face your emotional demons, your fears, your self-limiting beliefs, your saboteurs and blind spots.
Who are your “positive supporters”?
They are the ones who care about you and your success. They are the ones who give you both positive reinforcement and candid difficult feedback. They are the ones who help you achieve exceptional success.
Friends and family love you and cheer you on. But often they are not your best “positive supporters”.
Find the right people who are smart, brutally honest, committed, and care:
Board and investors who trust you and support you
Co-founders and teammates who share your values
Mentors and coaches who guide you and challenge you
They may be wrong. But so will you.
Who are your “positive supporters”? How do you show them your appreciation? How do you handle feedback and change?
Let me know in the comments. I’d love to hear from you.
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