The biggest pitfall to progress

I love funny materials, especially those that play with words.

I have this material kept for so many years and this concerns businesses that are not doing well. Here is the material.

Did you hear about the ……

Paper company that folded?

Brake company on the skids?

Bra manufacturers that went bust?

Surgeon who was forced to take a cut in his salary?

Cigarette company that went up in smoke?

Baker who was short of dough?

Refrigerator manufacturer that had its assets frozen?

Corset firm that felt the squeeze?

Upholsterers that couldn’t cover their costs?

Adhesive tape company that got into a sticky situation?

Tennis ball manufacturer that ended up in court?

Downfall of the bungee suppliers?

The train company that went off the rails?

The ship building company that sunk?

The dental practice that was rotten to its roots?

Most of my clients are bullish. They either hit or surpass their targets and as they go through the second half of the year everything seems to be bright and rosy.

It makes me happy knowing that my clients are doing very well. Most of them are highly charged and motivated since it’s now the business-planning season.

Unfortunately though there are a few businesses that are going downhill. Some of the owners and executives are aware of this and they embark into drastic measures in order to revive it.

Others are still in a state of denial and refuse to accept the fact that their business is hitting the bottom. This is a very dangerous situation. Why is this so? Let me present a scenario, as this seems to be the most common one in many cases of enterprise and career failures.

The business started many years ago. The initial phases were very difficult but the tides began to change. The business gathered traction, market share was gained, work force expanded and all the praises for the business were collected from TV Business News show as well as magazines.

Move forward a few years later and it seems that the business has slowed down. The excitement is no longer there anymore. Continued progress seems to be replaced by an uncomfortable sense of stillness.

What’s going on? How come the brakes are on and there seems to be no sign of advancement?

The most common cause of failure: EGOISTIC PRIDE.

To be proud of your work is okay. To be proud of the company you work for is commendable. To be proud of the enterprise you are running is essential but pride that is anchored on ego and grandiosity kills progress.

There is always more danger in success and praise than in criticism and correction. What once used to be energy spent in the creative process in building the business or career/profession begins to drift to the constant crave for attention and ego stroking from people.

When this is not checked the ego inflates and the person begins to believe his or her own press releases.

And then the predictable happens. A grandiose defeat and failure to bring the proud back to earth and this time humbled and perhaps humiliated. They have to start back to zero and live with the scars of the devastation and shame.

Some recover, others do not and they are still living in denial, too proud to admit they have erred.

We are all susceptible to this and we should arrest this unhealthy attitude the soonest to prevent further damage not only to the business and profession but even more so in terms of our personal character.

The solution is simple. And this is to constantly consider others better than ourselves; to accept the fact that we can all be blindsided.

Consistently craving for attention is a character defect. Constantly searching for public approval can be addictive. It would be most appropriate to stay away from people who flatter and praise. Best to stay grounded and realize that we are not the center of the universe and the universe will continue to run long after you and I are gone.
Life is simple. Love God, love men. Seek to improve and work earnestly on our talents and skills. Celebrate successes but not too loud and not too long. Channel the fruit of our labor to help others. This keeps us in our place and is a key to long-term sustainable success. And trust me, this makes life worth living and we stay happier too.

(Attend “Stand Out for Outstanding Performance” will be held on Sept. 9, 2015 at the Metro Tent inside Metro Walk along Ortigas Blvd. Be inspired and learn from speakers  Chinkee Tan, Bryan Kong and Karen Davila as they share principles on how to become great achievers. For further inquiries contact Inspire at 09158055910 or call 632-6310912 or 6310660 for details)