Level Up
In a podcast interview recently, we were asked: What does level up mean to you? An interesting phrase, but then again Level Up was the name of the podcast. Its target audience is small business owners with a growth mindset.
Knowing that, our first thought was that level up meant stepping up and meeting new challenges, trying new things without the fear of failure. One piece of advice often offered consultants, including us, is try new things and if they don't work try something else. In our years of collaborating, whether on a consulting or writing project, we follow that advice by staying up on trends and trying something new.
How close were we to the focus of this podcast?
We hit the sweet spot. In addition to providing both practical and technical advice, the podcast’s purpose is helping small business owners in a niche market to improve, grow and elevate their businesses. Whether that's through embracing technology, implementing new processes, managing people, or enhancing their personal growth, the audience is encouraged to embrace new challenges.
Consider the following when faced with new challenges:
What’s your perspective on overcoming challenges? Are you willing to try something new and accept that it might fail? And if it does, how can you learn from it? One way is to do an after-project assessment to determine what went right and what went wrong.
How much importance do you place on self-awareness? Do you overthink something, or jump right in without analyzing all facets of a new project—such as costs, level of effort, and return on investment? Do you procrastinate getting started, and if so, why? Are you eager to get something finished, with or without review? Are you focused on the urgency at hand instead of investing in long-term planning?
Do you consider the unlocked potential that a new project or challenge may bring? Yes, a new challenge does bring the prospect of failure, but it also brings the prospect of success—success in a new area that could increase revenue and profitability for an organization or provide new skills to team members. Consider if you are satisfied with the status quo or is it time to change the foundational system(s) of your organization.
Staying curious and intentional. Trying something new, doesn't mean you approach it haphazardly—throw it against the wall and see if it sticks. You must be purposeful in approaching a new challenge and set the intention that it IS going to succeed. That’s why self-analysis of your approach—overthinking or jumping right in—is so important and valuable.
Continuous learning. All of this leads to continual or life-long learning—for you, for your staff, and for the organization. New challenges increase institutional knowledge. Organizations grow as their employees grow. Continuous learning can mean getting outside of your comfort zone, but the result of doing so can bring great rewards. Keep in mind learning and growth is particularly important to the younger members of your teams.
In today’s ever-changing, fast-paced world, challenges greet us constantly, both professionally and personally. Having a better understanding of how you respond to them will enhance your decision-making process.