Be in any business for any amount of time and you’ll inevitably start having doubts.
Maybe it’s part of human nature. Maybe we’re just fickle. Maybe we’re scared. Maybe too much of a good thing naturally terrifies us because the law of averages means the other shoe will eventually drop and something, somewhere will go wrong.
Regardless of the reason, we start having doubts. I’ve had my doubts along the way. I’m sure you’ve had yours.
Am I doing the right thing? Am I where I’m suppose to be? Was that the right decision? What if, what if, what if. Yikes. We could really end up torturing ourselves with doubt. Some people get so consumed with the doubt and worry that they quit. They get absolutely paralyzed. They never move forward. They never take chances, and they stay in the same place they always have.
Maybe you have some of those leaders in your life and it seems like they never doubt. It seems like they’ve always got it all together.
Here’s the secret: they don’t.
Mind blowing, right? Even the most successful leaders have their doubts.
If you want to lead, if you want to be at the top, you’ve got to learn this and learn this as soon as possible: Follow through.
What separates them from the people who decided to stay still is that they had the drive to follow through and move forward anyway. If you want to lead, if you want to be at the top, you’ve got to learn this and learn this as soon as possible: follow-through.
5 Ways Follow-Through Matters in Business & Life
1) Your Reputation Hinges On It
I guard my reputation with my life. For any professional, especially someone who wants to make something of their name—your reputation absolutely depends on your ability to do what you say you’re going to do. Follow through is so critical! Are you going to build a reputation as someone who is trustworthy and dependable, or are you going to be known as a flake?
Few things discourage people from working with you more (short of criminal charge) than old fashioned unreliability. If you’re offering a service, people usually depend on that service, and you’ve got to deliver. And as a leader, an example needs to be set! Be excellent: don’t just follow through, go above and beyond the call.
2) It Makes You Worth Working With
No matter what kind of businessperson or leader you are: an investor, a speaker, blue collar, white collar, it doesn’t matter—your ability to follow through is what makes you worth working with and working for. Are you the kind of employer you would want? Are you the kind of person you would want to hire for a job? Dependability matters so much. I can’t stress it enough.
We’ve all had run-ins with enough people that aren’t dependable and don’t keep their word to know how important integrity is today. Be the kind of person you want to work with.
3) Doors Will Open for You
If this affects your reputation so much, trust me—a good reputation will open doors. Word of mouth is very powerful, whether it’s in a small town or a big city. Opportunities are going to open up for you if you keep your word and do what you’ve set out to do well. Deliver on your promises and people will recognize and reward that hard work.
4) It Propels You Forward
Being in the habit of doing helps you continue to do. The more you complete, the better you feel! Sometimes a long list of tasks can be overwhelming: even suffocating. But knowing that you can and are getting things done can give you the courage to do more and think bigger. Success sets the stage for more success. Let it urge you forward.
5) You Hold Yourself Accountable
If you have follow through, you can hold yourself accountable to a higher standard—and that’s always a good idea. Don’t let other people drag you down in this world. There’s enough of that, especially professionally. Accountability can be hard to come by, but dedication to keeping your word and being the best you can be at whatever you do? That is a key to success.
Follow through is one of those things that is easy in concept, but surprisingly difficult in practice. Real leaders don’t let things slip through the cracks, and they don’t let doubt and fear hold them back from achieving what they’ve set out to do.
Disappointments, setbacks, worry, what ifs...none of these are a match for their determination to succeed.
Be determined, friends.
Have doubts and fears ever caused you to miss out on great opportunities? Or has your drive for success ever helped you out of a bad spot? Share your stories in the comments.
