“No pain, no gain!”
We’ve all heard that. Originally it was about physical conditioning – if your exercise didn’t hurt, you weren’t getting any benefit. “Feel the burn,” as Jane Fonda would say.
It’s now moved on to every aspect of life.
No pain, no gain.
“You’re not working 16 hours a day on average? How do you plan to succeed?”
“You’re not forsaking lunches and breaks? You’re not trying.”
“Only 20 plates in the air? You’re a hack. Sit down.”
(Oh, how I hate that expression. “Sit down,” as though what you are saying is worthless, and you need to let the adults carry on the conversation.)
“It’s all up to you and there’s nobody else to do any of it, and it’s killing you? Now, we’re talking, that’s how WINNERS talk!”
No pain, no gain.
Well, let me tell you something: I have a different take:
“No pain, no problem.”
Now, it is true that growth happens when there’s tension or conflict or strain. And a lot of people think that means pain.
Growth happens with hard work, no question. But that doesn’t have to mean pain.
“Growing Pains” for a business is nonsense. Frustrations? Yes. Overwhelm? Sure. Anxiety? That too.
Kinda sounds like pain. But it’s not.
Because what’s the real purpose of pain?
To protect us.
To make us avoid the stimulus that’s causing it.
Nature never intended us to just keep plowing through pain. We’re intended to figure out what’s causing the pain, and get away from it. Animals back off and avoid the behavior. Humans are blessed with the ability to find the cause, and to fix it.
If your business is causing you pain, you’re doing it wrong – because you’re being told “Back off, this is dangerous and damaging!”
Those other emotions – those we are meant to overcome and solve. Whatever is causing them is meant to be fixed. We’re not supposed to give up because we’re frustrated, or overwhelmed, or anxious.
Now, if we don’t address these things, the same factors can lead to pain – so we want to address these before that happens.
If your business is growing, and you’re feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, and anxious, you need to figure out why – and then figure out what to do about it.
That’s why I am in business: to help you address the challenges of growth and help your business move forward and upward.
It starts with a conversation. Give me a call, shoot me a DM, reach out on WhatsApp. And for sure check out my website and book some time to talk. No obligation.
Let me help you!