It’s the one thing that gobsmacks every founder: no one shares your sense of urgency.
Not the developers you’re paying, the employees you’ve carefully selected and trained, the suppliers you rely on. And, for sure, not customers.
You’re ready to meet as soon as possible. The product absolutely has to be here on Thursday. You were pretty clear (come on, VERY clear) about the project deadline. And yet, these crucial dates come and go, and no one else seems to notice or care.
You’re constantly aware of how much you need to do, how much you want to do. With every delay, that infinite scroll of future plans gets just that much longer and even near-term goals push farther away. Meanwhile you feel competitors nipping at your heels.
Welcome to one of the main, less discussed stresses of running a business. It’s well nigh universal. So, take comfort from the fact you’re not alone, but don’t stop there. While whatever delay you’re currently worried about is probably not as existential as it feels, it’s hard to thrive – even survive – if you don’t move forward.
So what can you do about it?
– Recognize that, as a founder, you’re hyper sensitive: no one else is as laser-focused as you are. Moreover, you’re able to make decisions and change direction quickly in a way few others can. So you’ll need to build in a little (just a little) more time for everyone else.
– Customers are a particular source of frustration. But, remember, they, too, have business priorities, and your ranking on their list is nowhere near what theirs is on yours. So try to move quickly, but understand that it’s unlikely to happen on your schedule. And make sure you have alternatives. A delay with any client is nerve-wracking; it’s far more serious when that’s your only hope.
– Employees / suppliers / contractors: when you’re running a business, everything is important. But not everything is crucial. So make it clear to employees how important their efforts are. Set clear and reasonable – if tight – expectations, but save the code red for when it’s really necessary. If everything’s always a fire drill, if every task was due yesterday, people will tune you out and will be less likely to respond when the stakes are truly high.
