Louise Woodbury, co-author of “How To Grow Your Business By Taking 3 Months Off” says that any business can be structured so that the owner can take 3 months off. Here’s an extract from this unique book – “Chapter 43 Having The Gall To Dream A Real Whopper”.
For Bob and Sophie, it was time to plan their next goal or dream, before they got bogged down in the day-to-day business. Louise had advised them to take a few weeks break before the end of the first three months to take stock and look at their future. Something they could look forward to on their return.
She reminded them that a dream, like anything else, needs preparation, planning and follow-through. In terms of work, they are almost always more difficult to accomplish than the work which always takes priority. Putting fires out, emergencies and goodness knows what – this is part of being in business.
Don’t take no for an answer
The thing that differentiates dream fulfillment from the daily grind is that dreams, being for personal satisfaction, can be pushed onto the back burner all too easily. Coupled with this, there’s another unforeseen force that can come into play.
Tom O’Toole, who runs the Beechworth Bakery, describes them rather eloquently, as the ‘dream breakers’. The friends, relatives and associates who try to talk the adventurous out of doing things. They are not to be listened to. As Elvis sang, ‘Follow that dream.’ We call the presence of dream breakers as symptoms of the crayfish syndrome.
An explanation:
You have probably seen those large fish tanks filled with crayfish and other crustaceans, usually in Chinese seafood restaurants. Poor sad creatures. Their living conditions are terrible and their final destiny is the pot. You may also have noticed these tanks do not have lids. You’d think this would offer at least a slim chance for some crayfish, cunning enough to realise this oversight. But no.
Just as one adventurous crayfish is about to crawl to the top to escape, another one climbs on his back. Which causes the whole spiky lot to tumble back into the tank. So no crayfish ever escapes.
The Tall Poppy Syndrome
The point of this sad tale is that something very much like this happens in our Australian society. Some call it the tall poppy syndrome – which may be a touch grand for what we are discussing here. What you have to watch out for, particularly when your guard is down, are the dream breakers who get at you under the guise of helping.
They could totally undermine your plans with a simple remark like, ‘You’re going to do what? You just had a three-month holiday and now…?’ Remember, some people may have an interest in keeping the status quo. If you succeed in your quest, it can affect the way you go about doing business. Especially if they are trapped in their business and have settled for blaming everything and everyone for their circumstances. Your success may not suit their agenda.
Choose YOUR path
Your success has great implications – and not just for your family, team and business associates. The ripple effect will impact the economy, locally and globally. Remember, every drop of water helps make a mighty ocean.
If you give up on your dreams and lose your passion and have bought into the doom and gloom of our society, how will that affect your team? Your clients? Your suppliers? Not to mention your family? And your very own health?
But how about thinking from a totally different perspective. To create a successful business that doesn’t depend on you is your way of doing all you can do to help your country recover – and the world to prosper. Rather than being the victim, it?s time to decide to become the victor.
You may have a reason for going on a three-month holiday. Or you may not. Whatever your circumstances, whatever your dream, no one will stop you – but you. Your current circumstances have nothing to do with your future success. When the time comes to go to your grave, shouldn’t you still have music in you? The time to plan and act is now. Take courage – go for it!
Let?s return to Bob and Sophie, being questioned by Louise.
‘So what next?’ asked Louise.
‘Good question.’ Bob thought for a minute. ‘I just had an insight. When I think about it, I fell into this business because I had limited options.’
Sophie looked at him, clearly surprised. Bob was someone who would rarely, if ever, analyse himself in public. Sophie had noticed that Bob was more grounded now and far more at ease within himself.
Bob continued: ‘After losing my job – and they said it was redundancy – starting up our own business was one of the few options I had. Not a grand plan, just a survival strategy. So, if we could take a three-months holiday and come back to a business still running successfully – that means our long-term possibilities are even greater.’
Louise smiled, really pleased for them.
‘The thing is, Bob, you need to do what you love, and love what you do. It’s about you making a conscious choice rather than being at the mercy of circumstances.’
‘Consciously choosing,’ Bob repeated Louise’s words. ‘I like that – you’re so right!’
Bob turned to Sophie and smiled. ‘I’d rather go out with a whopping great big dream.’
