ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP || Why You Should Think Ten Years Ahead

As Bill Gates said: "Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.”

We often set lofty goals, or in more familiar business terms, big, hairy, audacious goals (aka. the BHAG) at the beginning of the year, and when the end of the year comes, we are left disappointed with the progress we've made. 

This doesn't mean you should scale back your goals, it just means we should be more content with what we ARE able to achieve in a year, versus sulking in disappointment. You have made progress, whether it's 50%, 70%, or 120% (good for you!) it's all progress in the right direction. 

What would be useful to make sure you are on the right track is to have not just 1-year goals, but 1, 3, 5, and 10-year goals written down so you can keep reflecting on your progress. Why would you want to plan so far ahead? 

It's because when you first get started working towards your goal, you are working against your 'inertia'. Imagine trying to push a giant rock 2 times your size down a hill, but first, you need to push it 5 meters to get it to the start of the downhill span. You are going to have to work extra hard getting past the first 5 meters, but once you hit the downhill stretch, the rock will gain momentum with you exerting minimal effort. 

Starting, running, and maintaining a business is similar to this process. While you are always working on your business, the beginning few years is probably the hardest, and once you have momentum and a track record, things get easier (notice I didn't say easy). What you will likely find, is that at the end of a 10-year stretch, you will reach your 10-year goals, it just took the first few years to get past the inertia and gain momentum. 

Most give up.

Most feel it's too hard.

Most come up with 500 excuses why it won't work.

But you aren't one of these people are you?