I Thought I'd Have This Figured Out By Now

Joe writes: "I'm seven months in. I thought I'd have this figured out by now. I'm working harder than ever, and the results aren't there. Is this normal?"

Yes. Welcome to the muddy mile.

The hardest part isn't starting—it's sustaining. The newness is gone. The initial excitement is gone. You're in the grind.

The lag: The results from today's effort might take months to appear. But if you stop and restart, you're back at zero.

The Gap and the Gain: Dan Sullivan's concept. Stop measuring forward to the goal. Measure backward to where you started. That's the gain.

The lie: The startup opportunists say you'll crush it from the get-go. They don't tell you about the muddy mile.

The physics: Momentum takes time. A rocket starts slow. A plane builds speed. You're building the foundation.

The prescription: Lower your expectations on the timeline. Raise your expectations on daily effort. Ask: What can I do today that keeps me moving toward the goal?

The lacrosse story: Scott's son was playing lacrosse. The team had the ball, approached the goal, and froze. A dad on the sidelines yelled: "Move your feet." They started running. That's the answer—don't freeze. Move your feet.

The close: You're right where you need to be. This is why only 6% of the population own businesses. Keep moving.

Got a business question? Ask Scott here: scotttodd.net/ask