Something is wrong.
You’ve been hoping it would go away but it hasn’t.
So you make an appointment to see your doctor in the hopes that they’ll be able to fix your problem.
Sitting in the office across from them, you explain what you’ve been feeling, what’s been causing you pain and worry.
You say:
“I have these terrible headaches all the time that can sometimes put me out of commission for half the day or more.”
This is how the problem is presenting itself – the symptoms – but the problem is actually whatever is causing these headaches.
The problem is the cause of the pain.
You need to solve the problem to banish the pain.
Stick with me here to see how this relates to your business (and really, life in general).
The doctor needs to find out more to get to the cause.
They’ll ask things like:
How long do your headaches last?
On a scale of 1-10 how intense is the pain?
Is the pain localized or throughout your head?
Is it throbbing, sharp, or something else?
Does anything else happen when you have a headache?
Do you find you have them at certain times of the day?
A good doctor knows that while they may have some idea of the issue, you are a unique person within a specific context.
They will try to understand your situation better so they can offer the best options.
After all, you’re more than just another headache-having patient.
When the doctor says:
“So you have throbbing headaches behind your eyes that last 3-4 hours. They feel like an 8 out of 10 and you can’t do anything but lie in a dark room. They usually happen in the late afternoons and that interrupts your quality time with your kids.”
You’re nodding like crazy! You’re thinking – yes, this is me!
Now, whatever he tells you will feel more relevant and more likely to work for you.
Of course, there isn’t normally a clear-cut solution. There’s going to be some experimenting involved because the source of the symptoms isn’t so easy to define.
Medication to alleviate the pain is not the solution. It can provide relief in the short term but it probably won’t last. The problem will still be there.
As with many problems we face, the answer often includes making changes – adopting or stopping habits and behaviours.
Most commonly, we go for relief and just hope that the problem doesn’t get worse.
But being the smart cookie you are, you know that this isn’t a long-term solution.
To find the root cause through experimentation, you need to use pain as a barometer.
The only way to know if something is working is to see if the pain diminishes once you’ve done something different.
“All self-help books say the same thing. Prioritize later over now.”
~Jimmy Carr from his book, Before & Laughter.
Doing things for future you isn’t easy – especially when you’re struggling – but it’s the only approach that has lasting effects.
How does all this apply to your business?
Your symptoms might be “feeling overwhelmed and unmotivated.” Your pain is that you can’t get out from under it all.
Saying you’re overwhelmed is like saying you have terrible headaches. It’s not enough information to diagnose the problem.
In this unclear state, you’re more susceptible to thinking a whole range of solutions could fix your problem.
And then when someone presents you with specific details about your condition, you feel a sense of relief and hope.
Someone else understands your problem in a way you could never figure out yourself.
Instead of talking about a generalized feeling of overwhelm, they say…
You wake up every day feeling like there’s a huge weight on your chest. You slowly peel yourself from under the blankets and shake off the dread. You knew entrepreneurship wouldn’t be easy but you’re sure that today is going to be different. Today, you’ll start fresh, you’ll be super productive and you’ll make some headway.
And then before you know it, it’s time to get dinner ready. You’re disappointed that you didn’t get as much done as you wanted. And the weight hasn’t lifted at all. How does this keep happening?
Even if the details are slightly different, you’re much more likely to see a message like this and think – Yes! That’s me!
While it can be hard to find your way in the fog of overwhelm (or whatever situation you want to fix), it is possible. You don’t need to wait for someone else to know you better than you know yourself.
To find the best solutions for your future self and business, ask yourself questions like a good doctor would.