Articles written by guest contributors
Weston Zimmerman
What’s the most difficult challenge you’ve overcome?
By Weston ZimmermanI just got back from a road trip across Ohio and Indiana, visiting contractors and recording episodes of The Cost of Doing Business podcast.
One of the questions I ask my guests on the podcast is: What is the most difficult challenge you’ve overcome? The answers that people give to that question are sometimes sobering, usually relatable, and sometimes awe inspiring. Overcoming challenges in business is a rite of passage.
After I got back from that trip, I saw a post on our Facebook group from someone I consider to be a great business owner who was also dealing with significant challenges and asking for advice.
One of the responses left by another contractor stood out to me. He wrote, “You’ll be alright. You’re asking the right questions. Don’t lose focus, and you’ll pull through this.”
As business owners, we can often feel alone. Sometimes that calm encouragement is all we need. It’s like a soothing salve. But here is the point of what I want to share today: You’ve been through a lot. Already.
Reflect on that, and ask yourself: What is the most difficult challenge I’ve overcome? And as you reflect on that, it likely will begin making you feel grateful. Not only that – but look in the mirror! Who’s overcome that challenge? YOU DID!
Mind you, yes, people around us support us, and if you’re a person of faith, God gives us the strength. But ultimately, you were the one that had to lean in to that support and strength and use it, put it in practice.
I do see an uptick in people that are fighting harder to grow their businesses and teams. The pandemic era was never here to stay. We’re back to fighting the normal battle of what it takes to make it in business.
Sometimes that struggle I see people in is more a mindset struggle than it is a practical struggle. A glass half full vs half empty kind of perspective to the problem.
Just know that you signed up to go into business for yourself, it was never going to be easy. You knew that from the outset. So now that it is in fact proving that to you, and yes, it is not easy, well buckle up and get to fighting and figure out the solution.
You got this. Just look in the mirror and think about the person that overcame that “most difficult challenge you’ve ever overcome.”
The challenges don’t get smaller. The person overcoming them just gets stronger. Find support when and where you need it. We were never designed to be alone.
Growth equals pain. No pain, no growth. You’ll come out the other side of this stronger. Get your head in the game, stop doubting yourself, and keep pushing. I’m rooting for you!
For help with your company, email Weston@SynkedUP.com, follow on IG at @synkedup, call (814) 383-1901 or visit SynkedUP.com. Weston Zimmerman is CEO & co-founder of SynkedUP project management software and app. SynkedUP helps contractors know and track their numbers, estimate and job-cost jobs, and manage their jobs efficiently. Check out his podcast "The Cost of Doing Business."
