Are you feeling stuck?

Are you really moving forward, or just spinning your wheels?

Do you feel like you keep pushing and you’re not going anywhere?

Are you pedalling like mad and not moving forward?

It’s a common feeling: working hard day after day and yet not really getting any closer to your goals. Let’s delve into this and figure out what’s really happening.

“Busy work” versus “Meaningful progress”

It’s worth taking a moment to ask ourselves: are we truly working on what matters, or are we just ticking off tasks to feel busy? There’s a huge difference between genuine progress and mere activity.

The truth about hard work

Here’s a somewhat uncomfortable truth: constant effort doesn’t guarantee progress.

Everything around us is constantly shifting—the economy, industry norms, and consumer behaviours are all changing. If you’re not adjusting your tactics to these changes, you’re just running in place, much like jogging on a treadmill—lots of energy expended, no ground gained.

Imagine you’re on the motorway, driving alongside another car at the same speed. Both of you speed up simultaneously, and it feels like you’re stationary relative to each other. Or consider looking at a plane while you’re both moving; it appears almost motionless.

Perception can be misleading.

A Lesson from the Gym

Think about a regular gym routine. If you’re hitting the same machines, with the same exercises every day, even increasing weights or reps, you will likely reach a plateau.

Why?

Because as you get older, your body changes; it doesn’t recover as quickly and muscle growth doesn’t keep pace with your younger self.

If “more of the same” is your plan, you might find it’s not working as well as you hoped.

A Personal Insight from the world of LinkedIn

On a personal note, I’ve been growing my business through consistent daily posts on LinkedIn.

It began well, with noticeable growth, but then the momentum just dropped off. I discovered that LinkedIn had changed its algorithm, something entirely out of my control, which significantly impacted my strategy. I had to re-evaluate what I was going, and make some quick changes to get back on track.

This was a critical lesson in flexibility.

What was working yesterday might not work today, and keeping on top of these changes is key if you want to maintain, or better yet, increase your pace.

This is really hard to do when you have your head down just trying to focus on driving things forward.

What’s Truly Important?

Ultimately it comes down to what you’re trying to achieve.

So in the first instance - I would suggest zooming out on what you are trying to do.

I’m trying to get more visibility on what I’m doing so I can help more people and ultimately grow my business. So as long as the right people are seeing what I’m doing the numbers don’t really matter that much. So that’s the metric that I need to define and work out a way to measure.

What About You?

Hopefully this has given you something to think about.

Now, over to you: What are you trying to achieve and what different perspectives could you have on the things you’re trying to do?

Sometimes the best action is a thoughtful pause to reassess and realign.

You need to work not just harder, but smarter. Challenge conventional paths, stir the pot a bit, and continually reassess whether you are truly moving towards your goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why do I feel like I’m not making progress despite being busy?
A: Feeling busy doesn’t always equate to making progress. It’s essential to distinguish between being busy and being productive. You might be engaged in activities that don’t move you forward. Reflect on whether your actions align with your goals.

Q: How can external factors affect my progress?
A: External factors such as changes in the economy, industry shifts, and modifications in your target market or competition can impact your progress. Even if you’re working hard, these external changes can make it seem like you’re not moving forward if you don’t adjust accordingly.

Q: What should I do if my efforts aren’t leading to progress?
A: It’s crucial to work differently, not just harder. Assess the changing external factors and your strategies. Sometimes, you may need to change your plan or strategy entirely due to these external changes.

Q: How can I adapt to changes that are out of my control?
A: Stay informed about changes in your environment and be flexible in your approach. Adjust your strategies to accommodate these changes. For example, if a social media algorithm changes, you might need to alter your content strategy to maintain or increase your visibility.

Q: Why is it important to have a clear goal?
A: Having a clear goal helps you focus your efforts on what’s truly important. It allows you to measure your progress more accurately and make necessary adjustments to your strategies.

Q: How can I ensure I’m making progress towards my goals?
A: Regularly review and adjust your strategies based on both internal reflection and an understanding of external changes. Set clear, measurable objectives and keep track of your progress towards these goals.

Q: What should I do if I notice my progress stagnating?
A: Reevaluate your approach and consider different perspectives on achieving your goals. Sometimes, stagnation can be a sign that you need to change your tactics or even redefine your goals based on new information or changes in your environment.