That old piece of wisdom assures us that good things come to those who wait. But who has time to wait that long?
No one will deny that our world seems to move much faster than it used to, and common business advice tells you that you always have to be keeping up. This includes responding quickly to social media complaints, and getting back to people right away, instead of 24-48 hours.
Then, there’s texting, which allows you to respond in seconds, avoiding all the polite pleasantries you have with phone or email.
So with all this instant feedback from how we communicate, it’s easy to think that the rest of our lives will be just as speedy, including the good things that we’re sure are waiting for us.
Smart business advice used to warn you that it may take years, if not decades, for your business to be successful. Today, many entrepreneurs want this declared sooner and hear feedback right away, rather than looking toward a longer-term strategy.
Who’s right? It depends, really, on your definition of success. Or perhaps both viewpoints could be right, depending on context.
Some executives will tell you that they love the creative and the strategy part of any venture, which includes building relationships, networking and making things happen. Others say the final part of the process is more important: closing the deal, delivering a product or service, and getting paid. After all, most banks don’t accept “good dialogues and synergy.”
Both have their place, but the first one might be the most fun if you’re a creative sort of person. Then again, making money, paying your people, keeping the lights on and growing your company could also be fun.
The first one can even be considered something of a reward that you can spend as much time as you want, provided you’ve met the tougher challenge of properly making money.
After all, good business advice will tell you that the instant gratification sometimes needs to take a backseat to getting the job done.
For more business strategies, visit Flex Capital.
