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In any way you look at it, this year has been a down year for Phuse. Our top-line numbers are down ac
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October 10 · Issue #29 · View online
A batch of thoughts, resources, and motivation from a friendly digital agency owner delivered every Monday at 6am ET.
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In any way you look at it, this year has been a down year for Phuse. Our top-line numbers are down across the board, and while we’re able to sustain ourselves through the end of the year, we haven’t been able to meet the goals we set out to. While this isn’t something we’ve realized recently, it’s been something that has been on my mind quite a bit: what the hell am I doing wrong? It’s so easy to blame any number of circumstances. From a key member of the team leaving, to the rapidly fluctuating Canadian dollar, to having a tough time hiring someone to support sales; it’s easy to see why we’ve struggled to grow as we have in the last 7 years of business. I can also look at it as a milestone where the company has outgrown it’s sustained growth, and take it as inevitable. It’s even easier to look back and say that I made a mistake, or that I should have done something some other way (or have done something at all). We live in an age where it’s easy to say you “should have” without consequence, and much rarer to admit that you didn’t and do something about it. Blaming your life, your business, or your relationships on things that are outside of your control are useless and where we often get stuck in the thought of “mistakes.”
Here’s the thing: there are no mistakes, there are only bad decisions. The sooner we understand that and take responsibility for the decisions we make, the sooner we can learn from them. I like thinking about the fragility of life. We’re constantly adapting to new situations as things around us change. Being grateful for where you’re at is important, and there’s nothing that shows more respect to your past than being bold and giving it your all. We need to hold ourselves and those around us to a higher standard where we can look back at our past and not think about what we should have done, but appreciate what we did (for better or worse). As we go through this week, let’s continue to think about the decisions we’re making and ensure we take responsibility for each one. PS: If you enjoyed this week’s issue, I’d really appreciate your support sharing this newsletter. Whether it’s a forward, a Twitter post, or putting my name on the back of your pants, it would mean the world. PPS: “Dammit, James: you missed a week.” Yes, I know I mentioned on Twitter that last week’s issue would be coming later in the week and I dropped the ball. Per this week’s topic, it wasn’t a mistake: it was a (series of) bad decision(s). Admittedly, I had the majority of this issue written, but couldn’t pull it together to wrap it up. I’m glad to be back to our regularly scheduled programming. |
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Avoid Burnout by Asking This Question
Article (7 minutes): “Studies show that when we begin to value the rewards we get for doing a task, we lose our inherent interest in doing the task. The interest we have becomes lost in our minds, hidden away from our own brains, as the shiny external reward sits front and center and becomes the new object of our desire.”
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Being a solo founder
Article (5 minutes): Many companies I’ve spoken to lately have partners. In a lot of ways I look at them and am jealous: all of the stress and burdens are shared with someone who (hopefully) is as invested as you are. While I co-founded a small company with a partner, Phuse has ultimately been a dictatorship for better and worse. I really enjoyed reading this take on the differences and why being a solo founder isn’t as bad as you think it is.
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To Get More Feedback, Act More Coachable
Article (6 minutes) - I mean, is the title not enough? While this article focuses on employee-manager relations, I think this also applies to entrepreneurship: if you want a mentor, you need to act coachable. Often, we lose out on these opportunities because we let our egos get in the way, and we lose a lot of value from the relationships around us.
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People Leave Managers, Not Companies
Article (5 minutes): Good companies have good leadership not only at the top, but on each level downward. Understanding the importance of relationships as they relate to retention is important, regardless of the size (or organizational structure) of your company. Feeling that connection not only to others but also the values and goals of the organization as a whole (and understanding their role in it) is crucial.
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Startup Patterns
App (iOS): Nifty little application that sends you motivation and thought as you venture through running a company (or are interested in it). Simple, clean, and the people behind it have a nifty payment model (or, rather, way of outlining it) around their consulting (paying in monthly installments, etc).
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“There are no mistakes in life, only lessons. There is no such thing as a negative experience, only opportunities to grow, learn and advance along the road of self-mastery. From struggle comes strength. Even pain can be a wonderful teacher.” - Robin Sharma
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Today is Thanksgiving in Canada, and I wanted to extend my extreme thanks to each of you who continue to read and give me the fuel to write these weekly. They take time, but I’m grateful to have you joining me on this adventure. If you have any questions or I can help you in any way, all you have to do is respond to this email. 🖖
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