Navigating the Flow Embracing the Highs and Lows of Running a Business.

Going with the flow: The highs and lows of running a business.

What is flow, I’ve heard it so many times when attributed to sports people. It’s that feeling of effortless success, like everything is connected and working as it should be. As a sports star it might be watching every shot you make go in, or just experiencing lots of luck but knowing it won’t stop. I’m told it comes from countless hours of practice, practice which means when the main event comes round you don’t even need to think about what to do. You have the process down perfectly, so you can just switch off and play. Safe in the knowledge you’re that good, the result will come.

As a business owner flow can be very different. There’s isn’t really that big match moment. Every day is both practice and game day. As a result, we fluctuate from high to low, we have good moments and bad moments, all wrapped into one working day!

The good moments are quick to appear. Maybe it’s feeling like you’re on a roll or where your work doesn’t even seem like work, or out of the blue a big contract comes in. But the lows, boy they can be low, something coming from nowhere to kick you in the nuts. I know for me it felt like the lows outweighed the highs, and sadly that can put most people off working for themselves for good.

So, what is the flow state?

But what is being in flow? Well, I’ve done some reading, and it seems to be that everyone has a different opinion about what the flow state is. The general themes seem to be that the universe is all connected and if you can get yourself into a natural state of complete harmony with the universe, where you aren’t really in control of the outcome but more just faithful in the innate skills you have, then you can enter a flow state. It’s probably more complex than that, but that’s where we will start.

Ok so I’m in the flow state, what do I do with it?

So, my first question to you is, do you know your purpose?

I know mine; it took me a while to figure it out admittedly, and I could probably wax lyrical about it for more than an entire blog post so I will try to keep it short.

My purpose is to help others achieve greatness. More specifically it’s achieved greatness in business. Did I help you have a bigger house than me? Do you drive a nicer car? Are you a better dad despite running a business? Great, I salute you, I’ve done my job. I have referenced my “dream” in the past of writing a book and reaching thousands of people with my words such that after I’m gone my writings still affect their lives and helps them achieve their goals. And boy when I write do I enter a flow state.

My question to you is, do you know your purpose?.

I guess I am lucky to have realised my purpose this early, but here’s the thing, that’s my purpose now, but will it be forever and to what end is it significant?

Here’s where it gets a bit hypothetical. What if my purpose in life was to write a book, which influenced one single person in 100 years’ time to great success? What if no one else ever read it, and it was in fact an abysmal failure? I am ok with that. Because it’s what I was put here to do. Whether hit’s one person or a million, if I can make someone better off than I am going to do it, and when I write about it, the words just keep coming. They “flow”.

When I chase that purpose, it seems like the universe flows with me. Things happen, odd coincidences etc. It’s a bit like that scene in the matric where they see the cat twice. The world just works. I hate to say it, it flows.

You can’t always be in flow; in fact, you’re probably going to be tested.

I can’t begin to tell you the various cycles of anxiety I feel, even from the smallest events. The PTSD I feel from someone chasing me to pay an invoice (a function I have passed onto other people) because at one point in my life I was afraid to go outside due to the debts my then business had. I can’t begin to tell you the various cycles of anxiety I feel, even from the smallest events.

The PTSD I feel from someone chasing me to pay an invoice (a function I have passed onto other people) because at one point in my life I was afraid to go outside due to the debts my then business had. I remember the safety I felt when I would put the shutters down on my office, knowing I was safe behind them. The world couldn’t get to me anymore.

I really don’t think the government understands what entrepreneurs go through, the hardships we face, the sacrifices we make to just try to achieve something. The fact that so many people fail breaks my heart.

Start a business they say. No one tells you about the downsides. We’re told only those that try hard succeeding. It’s just not true. Some people work outrageously hard and still fail. Just give up your secure job, take on a load of risk and business rates you don’t need to pay, all to have the “potential” to make a profit. Just when things start going well watch the world explode and then must put it back together, all the while your friends are secure, paying their heating bills and complaining that Karen from Facebook is causing them some stress that seems trivial to someone running a business.

Make some money and the best bit is people resent you for it. It’s an off society we live in that we resent people’s success!

If you want to flow better, look at what works for you.

So, I know my purpose, and it’s a purpose that seems to make the world better but how did I get there?

Well, I had to think about what works and doesn’t work for me. For me there’s a few cold hard facts that I know:

I am the worst gambler on earth. If something was 99% certain, and I placed a bet on it, it wouldn’t happen, so I just don’t gamble!
I am terrible at any sport where people could watch me, honestly, it’s shocking. Put me on a driving range and I’m like Tiger Woods but put me in a competitive match and it’s like I’ve never seen a golf club before.
I can write (I am aware at this point that you’re reading me babble on and might disagree with me).

So, here’s my plan to flow. I am going to write and write, just to see what comes out.

I have faith that that will open some doors to do more writing than on this blog. Some guest posts, maybe one day that book. Those posts and that book will open some doors to doing podcasts and who knows I might even get on High Performance (if you’ve never listened to it I would highly recommend it) which means I will reach a wider audience and have that chance of influencing someone to success.

It’s all about the small steps that help make being successful natural.

All these small steps each day will help me share my lessons with others and open doors I will gladly walk through in the name of my purpose. But that’s all they are small steps. I don’t think people these days understand how much value there is in small steps. Everyone must start somewhere and ultimately with that first step.

If you want to make a success of your business idea, you need to flow with whatever events get thrown at you. For me, that means understanding that “mistakes” aren’t mistakes at all. Every day and every “mistake” is simply an opportunity to learn and improve. Ultimately, it’s only a mistake if you do it again.

Keep making those tiny steps forward, no matter how hard it seems.

Every single day as a business owner, you should aim to take one tiny step towards your purpose. Maybe your purpose is to be outrageously rich, or to design the best car, or just to be the very best cleaner there ever was, but pride should be taken in doing your job to the best of your ability and a bit of blind faith added into the mix too.

Have faith in your abilities and go with the flow. You’ll get there.

Will Ryles

Entrepreneur & Founder | Yellowstone Accounts

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