Adversity is a Motivator when you have the right Mindset!
It’s amazing to me how many people try something and then when they make a mistake, are challenged, or maybe even fail, they just give up or move on to something else. I see this in my personal and professional life all the time. I’ve read lots of books this past year and one of the statements that hit me was, “The grave yard is filled with untapped potential.” We have one life to make our own history and to do something worthy of making ourselves, our family and friends proud. Your true potential is within you, but most of the time you must go through the difficulty, the pain and the uncertainty to reach the limitless potential YOU possess!
To do this, I truly believe it is a mindset. I’ve spent time learning about a fixed vs. growth mind set. If you are fixed, you have built walls around your decision and what you believe. It doesn’t matter what new information comes around, you can’t or won’t accept anything that contradicts your decision and actions. It is as if you feel like you must protect your decision at all costs. When you think about that way of thinking, it’s an easier way to live for sure, black or white, on or off. Unfortunately or fortunately, life has lots of grey and, in our industry, we call it variable speed, so being of the growth mind set is important in all situations of life. Developing a growth mindset is about permitting new information to enter your brain and allow it to be processed and using it to make an informed decision with new information. This is vital for running successful businesses and making important decisions throughout your life. Steve Jobs has gone on record to say one thing and then 6 months later he would say the exact opposite. He wasn’t afraid to reverse his position based on new information. Good people make mistakes, bad customers can turn into raving fans, life and people change. You will limit your potential if you don’t consider new information in to assess a situation.
In my life, I’ve been humbled and had a road block or two that have completely frustrated me at that time. These moments could keep a person down or sway future direction. But, if you learn from these mistakes or challenges and truly take them to heart, you will be better for it, allowing you to become a better leader, friend and person. To me, it starts with a purpose. Just like your business, you need one too. I know you are busy, but stop and think about your purpose. It isn’t to make money. That’s cheap and shallow. However, it is great to make money from executing your purpose well, but you need to find your purpose and be passionate about it. Also, remember there is always going to be someone or a business that is bigger, faster, smarter, more talented, but if you possess the heart, the drive, the will to succeed, nobody can ever take that from you! No matter how hard of a hit someone gives you, you will eventually get up and you will push forward again. But now, you are equipped with more skills, wiser and stronger from the experience.
Just like many of you who use ESS, GAC Services has had some success over the last 8 years, even winning some major industry awards, but we also made plenty of mistakes along the way. Constantly improving, setting goals and allowing new information to be part of your future decisions will help improve our industry and your business. Write it down, say it, believe it and work toward it no matter what the hurdle or what life puts in your way. To truly have passion in your life is what real living is about.
Rich Biava
GAC SERVICES
2015 ACCA Contractor of the Year
2013 Bryant Dealer of the Year
