Entrepreneurs solve problems in a never-ending spiral of adaptability, innovation and deployment of new tools. We are in the market and the market is a current, flowing as opposed to solid ground.
What I’ve learned over the past two weeks after knee surgery was how to walk again and the parallels of the process are stunningly similar to the entrepreneurial journey itself. Here are the highlights:
1. Prepare – feed your head
Knowing I was going to “rest” for five days to two weeks meant I would have time to read, listen to books on tape, watch movies and just think. Deciding what would go into my head was extremely liberating and I became the editor of my own information. I honed in on business books, thought leadership for my intellect and slapstick movies for my spirit. (see Bushwhacked and Mall Cop) This created a matrix of education and while my legs were healing by brain was growing. Why hadn’t I done this before?
2. Creating a regiment – making everyday count
Focused on what I could do was far more rewarding than focusing on what I couldn’t. As entrepreneurs, we play to our strengths. It is no different in life.
3. Pacing and building strength
The first day back at the desk, was only 20 minutes. The second day was 20 minutes two times a day. By the third day is was an hour and a half at a sitting. Now it’s any amount of time I choose. Strength builds on itself. Practice yours.
3. Learn what you’re dealing with – discovering it is harder than you think
Even though my mindset was positive, the reality of the situation was far more serious. This gave rise to moment-to-moment problem solving. You only learn you have a problem when it becomes a problem. Once you can see it, you can fix it.
How do I get off the couch without being lifted to a stand? Put a table next to my arm and leverage the hard surface. Problem solved.
How do I make sure I stay nourished? Create a daily menu of simple, whole foods.
How do I get through icing my legs three times a day when the procedure ices my legs to 40 degrees? Put on slapstick movies – or books on tape – do anything BUT sit and suffer.
How do I have a meeting if I can’t get ready like I normally do? Compensate! Do what you can! Kate Marengo came over to work on CRM. When she was finished I offered her the Vodka I couldn’t drink and almost felt better after she had it.
Roz Kovel came over with her broken foot. She sat on one end of the couch, I sat on the other. We had a marketing meeting with a teapot in the middle and it worked out just fine.
4. Initiate from where you are
Last week we launched the first SEO class as we build a matrix of learning for our membership. Two of the classes filled in 24 hours. It struck a chord. What this taught me – we didn’t sell anything. We supplied our members with what they needed. This was a dramatic shift in awareness. Be what people need. Don’t try to create their need.
5. Attitude is everything – positive expectations create self-fulfilling prophecies
No matter what you are up against, how unclear the path, by putting one foot in front of the other, you can see more clearly with each step. I have never found this to be truer than now. I have gained appreciation for what it will be like to be elderly, for the value of measured progress and for having the ability to expand my world without limitations within limitations.
They told me at the Docs office they rarely see two knees at once. Had I known what I was up against – I would have done it the same way. Why draw out healing when I can do it in one swoop? After all I’m an entrepreneur – and we want our fixes done yesterday!
