I have noticed a curious thread that runs through all the most successful entrepreneurs that I have worked with: they don’t think they are anything special
They are merely going about their business fixing the obvious problems and doing the obvious work. They aren’t trying to pave new ground, but by doing what seems obvious, they are getting the job done.
The rest of us are busy trying to be original and thinking new thoughts and solving complex problems. We are constantly analysing the situation and then hypothesizing about new ways of doing things.
Meanwhile the real entrepreneurs are busy at work.
The process of working and discovering is a continuous feedback loop. They learn what works and what doesn’t through experience.
Entrepreneurs aren’t the only ones that benefit from doing the obvious:
People who set out to be humble are rarely humble. It’s the people who love people that are graced with humility.
People who set out to be smart are rarely smart. They use big words to appear bigger and better than they really are.
People who strive for perfect health are rarely health. They often obsess about germs and weight and calories to the point of depression.
Success is not much more than doing the obvious.
As my father used to say over and over again, “Business is not rocket science, its consistency.”
And he had a great point: if you want to be great at something, stop trying too hard. The stress and frustration of trying to rise above the crowd is overwhelming—it leads to headaches and giving up.
Instead, just keep showing up. Hit the publish button. Ship the beta version. Raise your hand.
Do the obvious things.