Mentor Column

 

Success - It's Not Complicated, Just Painful

 

By Jared Stewart

 

I think it happened during my sophomore year of high school. I was on the football field, just doing my job (trying to stop a running back twice as fast as I was), when I got caught up in a moving pile of players and was thrown hard to the ground. As I stood up, I discovered that the joint of my middle finger, instead of going straight up, was now turned sideways. I did my best to keep the tears from flowing as I ran off the field toward my coach. I showed him my hand, fully expecting him to call for an ambulance or, at the very least, arrange a trip to the nearest doctor's office. Instead, he carefully examined my finger, wrapped his large hand around it, and proceeded to yank it out, then up and back down again, landing it firmly into its original location.  He skillfully taped the injured finger to its neighbor and asked me if I was ready to go back into the game. I thought he was crazy, but I responded with an, "I guess," and ran back onto the field. I'm not sure I even missed a down.

Today my finger is still slightly deformed, but that's OK because it reminds me of an important lesson. The lesson is this: Don't let a little pain freak you out.  It usually looks worse than it is. You'll be fine, just get back in the game.  

Before Corporate Alliance, I tried my hand at a variety of entrepreneurial ventures. Each of them had exciting chapters, as well as extremely painful ones, but in the end, each of them either ran out of gas or was sold for modest gains.  When I contrast my flash in the pan businesses with our current company, I ask myself, "What is the difference? Why is this one thriving while the others stalled and sputtered?" I believe one of the key differences is that our team is willing to endure more pain. Put simply, we love this business and are willing to make the required sacrifices.  For almost seven years straight, I've woken up and asked the question, "What (painful) learning experience does the business have in store for us today?" And yet, we stuck with it.  We never even entertained the thought of giving up.

I remember talking to an investment expert early in my career who told me something I will never forget. He said, "An intelligent investor won't invest in a company that has a founder who hasn't sacrificed. Everything should be on the line.  If they don't believe in it, why should we?"

I've concluded that the key ingredient for success in business is finding a vision that you love so much, it pushes, pulls and, if necessary, drags you forward, regardless of the pain.

Every challenge you meet head-on makes you stronger, but if you happen to be having a particularly rough day and are seriously considering throwing in the towel, remember that things usually look worse than they really are. You'll be fine, just get back in the game.

 

Jared Stewart is the Founder and CEO of Corporate Alliance. Corporate Alliance helps business leaders build mutually beneficial relationships.

 

Launch - Fall 2007

 

 

For the full "digital magazine" version of Fall 2007, visit: http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/growutah/launch_2007fall