Juggling Chain Saws can be Hazardous to Your Business

This story is for those of you that are burned out, frustrated, and fed up because you can’t seem to get anything done.  Projects get started and never finished.  Every day is a new idea that is hot one day, but disappears a few weeks later.  Your business is stuck and you don’t know why…

 There was a man who wanted to become a juggler.  So, he took a class and learned to juggle three rubber balls.  It was so much fun.  In fact, it was easy and he delighted his audiences.  But, soon he was bored and he decided he needed to juggle other objects. 

 He learned to juggle fruit, bowling pins, even special knives.  He was having such a great time and, once again he delighted larger audiences, so much so, that he decided he would become a world-class juggler.  He continued to train and add unique items to juggle, until the ultimate “apparatus” caught his eye – he would learn to juggle chain saws.  It was dangerous.  If he made a mistake it could mean serious injury – even death, but the thrill of being the best urged him on.  Once again, his audiences were delighted. 

 But, soon he was bored and rather than juggle merely three chain saws, he added a fourth.  Then a fifth.  It was getting really dangerous now, but the juggler couldn’t seem to help himself.  He was driven to risking life and limb for the thrill of the new challenge.  Finally, he added a sixth and his audiences started to become nervous, knowing at any moment it could all come crashing down.  It was stressful; his heart pounding, his eyes wild.  He added a seventh.  Seven chain saws flying through the air, buzzing, ready to cut whatever got in their path, but the juggler didn’t care.  He was famous now and the rush of doing more was everything.

 But after a few years of constant stress, the juggler began to grow tired.  The chain saws seemed heavier than they were before.  One day, he dropped one.  Fortunately, he wasn’t cut badly, so even though his arms were fatigued from the weight of the saws, and his brain was weary from concentrating on each movement, he picked up the dropped saw and continued on.   A few moments later, he dropped another one.  This time he received a deeper cut, the audience gasped.  The quality of his juggling act was declining and the audiences began to grow smaller and smaller. 

 Desperate, the juggler tried harder to hold the massive chain saws, but the harder he gripped, the more they fell to the ground.   Every day became more of a struggle.  All the joy the juggler had known from his early days was gone, as were the audiences that he had enchanted for so many years. 

 If only he had disciplined himself to juggle less chain saws.  He could have done an amazing job each and every performance and felt such accomplishment at the end of every show.  He could have continued to see the smiles on the audience faces and remained a world-class juggler. 

 The man sat and thought for a long time until he saw clearly… It was time to start over, but this time he would stay focused on what was really important.  The juggler took 3 rubber balls from a velvet bag and began to toss them in the air.  Joy came rushing back.  He felt alive again and knew that someday he would delight audiences again.

 If this sounds like you and you’re ready to really focus on what’s important to be world-class, please give me a call and I’ll be happy to help.  Dawn Drozd, ClearVision Business Coaching – 586-323-5150 or dawn@clearvision.us.com