To achieve goals takes hard work, longevity, and sacrifice. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just do it all and have it all?! Sadly, that way of thinking is unrealistic. John Maxwell says it best: “you must be willing to give up in order to grow up”. For you to grow and succeed as an entrepreneur, you must be willing to make some significant sacrifices.

The most successful entrepreneurs have mastered the art of ‘trade-offs’. They have learned how to recognize an opportunity when it approaches, and furthermore make the right decisions to take full advantage of it. Whether they add something to their life or day-to-day practices, exchange one habit for another, or put a pause on a favorite hobby, they are accustomed to making sacrifices to achieve their goals. Don’t get me wrong, no one wants to give up a hobby or doing something they love, but if it meant getting the ‘golden ticket’ to success, wouldn’t you make the sacrifice?!

As you are striving for success, consider that you may need to sacrifice a little more, to achieve more. Here are some common things that many entrepreneurs have given up to make their dreams a reality:

Reevaluate Your Hobbies

If your hobbies are not serving your overall purpose or goal, they may need to be put on the backburner. Let’s say you are starting a new tech company, and your hobby is playing in the community soccer league every Thursday. Ask yourself if being on this soccer team will help you accomplish any of your goals within your new company. It is likely that it is not conducive to your success in the tech world. However, if you are designing your own clothing line and one of your favorite past-times is learning new sewing patterns. This is a hobby you should continue to nurture! You may choose to adopt a new hobby that is in line with, and may help you achieve, your goals and dreams.

Short-Term Pleasures

When you start your journey as an entrepreneur, understand that you sign up for a long-term gig. Success is not created overnight; it will take time. It is important for you to have a long-term mindset. Along with this mindset, you may be required to sacrifice some short-term pleasures in life — family BBQs, a weekend trip to the cabin, or a round of golf with your college buddies. In the moment, you may be totally bummed to miss out on these fun activities, but if you take that time to put your head down and work hard, you will reap the benefits in the long run.

Rockstar Lifestyle

In today’s culture, we are fed the idea that fancy cars, big houses, and luxurious travel define success. Although this is reality for some people, for others it is merely a facade. It is easy to get caught up in the world of ‘looking good’ or trying to keep up with the trends — buying the mansions or splurging on expensive dinners every night. However, as you pursue the path to entrepreneurship and begin to work your way up the ladder of success, it is in your best interest to forego this lifestyle. Rather, focus on living ‘lean’ and spend your time, energy, and effort on building your business. If you do this and have a long-term vision, as previously mentioned, don’t worry, you will buy that fancy car one day!

COACH’S TIP

How committed are you to your goals?  At Metrix, we often ask the question, what are you doing that others would consider weird?  Great…now do more of that! If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that those that have massive success and achieve their goals do so because they are willing to do the things that failures just don’t like to do!  They think different, act different, and therefore they get different results!