Growing for the sake of growing - that all-consuming quest for more, the urge to climb every mountain and overcome every challenge. Yet I keep asking myself, "When is enough, enough?" The media and the online world absolutely love the idea of constant, insane growth. This translates to bloated businesses, increasing revenues and an attitude of "more, better, faster"?
It's a treadmill we find ourselves on that, in my opinion, is always just a little too fast and steep. Isn't it high time we hit the stop button and get off?
I am certainly not insensitive to the lure of growth. I have spent more than a decade building and advising companies with high valuations and revenue growth. Growth can create a sense of progress and a sense of incredible accomplishment.
Is it enriching? Definitely. Is it satisfying? To a certain extent. But there is more to life than the constant pursuit of "more."
Let us not become slaves to the concept of "More."
I strongly believe in building our lives first - designing an existence that truly reflects who we are and what we value. And from there, grow businesses that fit those values. Not the other way around.
Life should not be about scaling businesses. Businesses should be about enriching your life.
The real question we need to ask ourselves is not "How big can we get?" but "What kind of life do we want to live?" The magic happens when we shift our focus from size to meaning.
We might discover that "enough" is much less than we thought.
Because we have been conditioned to believe that "more" is synonymous with "better." But often it is simply synonymous with more stress, more time away from family and more sacrifices.
Maybe it's time we defined "enough"?
Perhaps "enough" is working on something you genuinely enjoy, serving clients who truly appreciate what you do, and having time outside of that to spend with your family and loved ones.
Today, I encourage you to define the concept of "enough" for yourself. Because your existence is not a business plan waiting to be scaled up. And the beauty is that your business can fit perfectly within that design - without the constant, exhausting quest for inexorable growth. Isn't that an attractive idea?
I hope you want to think about it.
Because, when is enough, enough?
1. Reflect on your values and ambitions:
Spend an hour alone without distractions. Write down your personal values, aspirations and what makes you happy, satisfied and fulfilled. This could be spending time with your family, working on a passion project, traveling or volunteering. The idea here is to identify what really matters in your life.
2. Define your business goals:
Think about your business. What is its purpose? What impact does it have? Who is it intended for? How does it fit with your personal values as described above?
3. Evaluate your current situation:
Next, look at your current situation. Are you spending too much time growing your business at the expense of personal happiness? Are you constantly striving for more growth, even if it causes stress and takes time away from the things you value most?
4. Define "enough" for yourself:
Finally, determine what "enough" means to you. It can be a certain amount of money, specific work hours, a set number of clients or a specific impact you want to make. This will give you a clear idea of when to stop striving for growth and start enjoying the results of your hard work.
Do you find this interesting? I will soon be releasing a book with some personal insights to support other people in making decisions and goals in a sustainable way. Feel free to drop me an email at filip.smet@amotek.be!
We are busy behind the scenes working on the Amotek Academy, a club where knowledge sharing between entrepreneurs is key. Want to be part of it? Register here.
