Four Forks You May Have Found on the Road to Success -- or Failure

Yogi Berra is famous for saying: "When you come to a fork in the road, take it!" Although it may have been meant as a joke while giving directions, most business owners and entrepreneurs find something strangely recognizable here. 

Every business and business owner starts with an idea, a desire, or recognition of an unfilled need. With varying degrees of faith, focus, and fear (lessness), we moved forward in creating the vision we saw in our mind's eye. We began with purpose and with ambition to fulfill the vision. We had a why and we were determined to put the what, when, where, and how into action. Question: How did that work for you?

So what happened? Why didn't the dream match our reality? There are probably way too many reasons to adequately list here, but my experience tells me that either rapidly or gradually, we probably lost our way to our why. We may have stumbled onto some of the many forks in the road, and to some degree or another, we took them. Rather than remain on the path we originally laid out or that was laid out for us, we became distracted and we veered off course. Sound familiar? Well, if it happened to me, I have to believe it has probably happened to someone else.

So what are some of these forks and how can we recognize them in the future?

The Fork of Fear: Much like Dorothy, who stepped onto the Yellow Brick Road, we begin the journey in the bright sunshine, with great support, and with a song in our heart. However, since the journey is uniquely ours we soon find ourselves alone and it seems to be getting awful dark. We've reached the fork of fear and suddenly we lack the courage to continue on the original path and move in the direction of safety, better light, or less risk. But, did we?

The Fork of Pride: Sometimes the longer we walk our path the more independent we become -- and while freedom and independence are at the root of our desire to run our own business, pride and arrogance can sneak in and cloud our judgment. We begin to take our own counsel and stubbornly hold on to faulty plans and habits. Ruts are beginning to form and we are falling into them convinced that we're still on the right path even as the horizon slips away. We can't seek help now. What will people think? Who cares! They aren't paying your bills or feeding your family.

The Fork of Complacency: What may have begun as a journey of great urgency with a tight schedule and planned milestones now gives way to something else. We begin to enjoy the freedom of the open road and come to realize that no one is there to tell us what to do, how many miles we have to cover, how soon we need to arrive at our next check in point. We're seeing some of those roadside attractions that compete for our attention. We see malls and shopping centers and suddenly remember some errands we need to run or some items we need to pick up. We see shady spots and with smartphone in hand and stop for a minute to catch up -- but the minutes become hours. It seems to bother us at first, but after a while it becomes routine. Has this happened to you?

The Fork of Procrastination: Consistency and action, or shall we say consistent action, accelerates the journey. Much has been written about the power of small but persistent steps and their ability to move us surely and steadily to the finish. Great books like The Slight Edge and Eat That Frog contain the vital principles of consistency and prioritization. No matter how glamorous or exciting a business may seem there are times, lots of times, when it becomes tedious, boring, mundane -- unfun. Couple the mundane with the difficult and we've created the perfect opportunity for inconsistency and procrastination. For procrastinators, there is always another time. Worst of all, there is always another excuse. Sadly, when we buy or own excuses, we're often left with little to sell. Timing is everything in business and putting off vital tasks puts us at risk of missing the momentum when the pendulum swings our way. Ever lost a deal to a competitor because you put off making the call? Yeah, me neither.

While there are many other forks on many other roads, chances are you or someone you know has taken one of the four listed here in this article. If so, you are not alone. Best of all, it is not too late to do a little backtracking and get back on the original path. As you do, you'll probably find you are a little wiser, a little more humble, a little more teachable, and even a little more hungry. Who knows, you might even find a reason to write about your journey.

About the Author: Terry Crouson is the Owner and Head Coach at Silver Coach Solutions, LLC and is currently doing business as The Growth Coach of West Metro Detroit. He is dedicated to helping business owners, executives, entrepreneurs, sales professionals, and self-employed professionals find their way by finding their why. He is a highly respected business coach, speaker, facilitator, and community builder. Terry is certified in the Strategic Mindset Process, and is also a DISC Certified Behavioral Consultant.