Stop changing things in your business to make yourself feel better.
Business is exciting, full of ups and downs and can be more thrilling than the scariest rollercoaster.
The stakes are high, decisions can be make or break and the consequences can sky rocket you to financial freedom or leave you in financial ruin.
As someone with ADHD my pattern has been to chase the dopamine. There is always a new shiny object, a bigger project, a new strategy that is going to get us to that next stage of growth.
For years I watched my management team roll their eyes whenever I suggested a new idea. It would really frustrate me because I was so passionate about the new idea and it’s potential to change everything.
It wasn’t the idea that I was invested in. It was the underlying driver of the idea.
The sense of purpose, the fear of the unknown, the adventure of the road untravelled.
This is a phenomena I see in many 6-7 figure business owners.
They are addicted to dopamine.
It is the constant chase for the next high, typically at substantial cost of money and bandwidth which seems insignificant in isolation, yet compounds into life altering consequences.
Hire a new agency
Setup a new 42 step funnel
Rebuild the website
Hire someone new
Join a new program
Buy a new car
Do more renovations
The list of manic decisions goes on.
This was my own pattern for years. I can’t say I am perfect, however, I have created systems that have made a huge difference in my life and those of our clients.
The solution is to avoid going cold turkey on dopamine. Most people do not have the will power and will likely relapse harder and do more damage as a result.
The aim is healthy regulation of dopamine. Find a means of having a controlled release that is in a risk adjusted environment, which typically is not your business.
Business should be boring, methodical and calculated. The strategy of business is not complicated, it just requires you to discover a model that works, stick with it and optimise over time.
This is where solid financial operating rules comes into play. Have an objective framework that holds you accountable to real results, outcome oriented decision making and taking the least amount of risk to achieve a result.
Since implementing our operating rules, we’ve seen a significant improvement in liquidity, profitability, cash at bank and business value.
Our team are more relaxed and less anxious about the constant shifting and changing of direction.
Our leadership team are working better together and our clients are getting better results.
Funnily enough, I am happier without the constant chaos of new initiatives.
Imagine if your business could be simple again, you could curb the chaos and end the retrospective regret you have every time you look back on the mistakes of the past?
If you’d like help setting up your financial operating rules and curbing your dopamine addiction, let me know!
