The rollercoaster

I write weekly about the strategies, habits, and tactics around cultivating the connections that matter to you.

I figured the only way I was going to get my 3 year old son to go on a rollercoaster with me was to not tell him.

While you may enjoy the amusement park rides I traumatized my son with, the phenomena I’m referring to here is sure to bring up traumatic memories with many of you.

It's that exhilarating yet terrifying cycle where business booms, and we're swamped with current clients, leaving no room in our schedule to nurture future opportunities. Then, as the dust settles, we find ourselves in a lull, scrambling to fill the pipeline again. Sound familiar?

This rollercoaster isn't just a thrill ride; it's a common business challenge. When times are good, it's easy to focus solely on the work at hand. But this short-term focus can lead us to neglect the very activities that ensure our long-term success—building and maintaining relationships for future business.

The key to smoothing out the ride is consistent effort in nurturing future relationships, even when current business is booming. Easier said than done, right? The reality is, when you're buried in work, it's tough to think about anything else.

This is what the gospel of productivity and self-help will tell you.

1. Schedule It: Just as you schedule client work, block off time in your calendar for future-focused activities. Even an hour a week can make a difference.

2. Leverage Downtime: Use slower periods to plan and execute outreach strategies, content creation, or networking efforts.

3. Automate and Delegate: Look for tasks you can automate or delegate to free up time for relationship-building activities.

4. Reflect and Adjust: Regularly review what's working and what's not. This reflection can help you make smarter choices about where to invest your future-focused efforts.

Unless you’ve invested an incredible amount in these habits and systems well in advance, I’m not confident in these. I am going to share you one thing I have seen work.

A Simple Yet Effective Trick

So, what's the trick to breaking this cycle? Ask yourself, on a daily basis: "What can I do right now that will benefit future me?" It's about finding small, manageable actions that keep the momentum going without overwhelming your already packed schedule.

Breaking free from "The Rollercoaster" requires a shift in mindset. It's about recognizing that the work you do today to build future relationships is just as crucial as the work you do for your current clients. By committing to small, consistent actions aimed at future growth, you can start to level out the highs and lows, leading to a more stable and sustainable business.

To your future self:
-Zvi

BTW - If you are someone who has already been investing in an EA and effective delegation, check out this new book, Radical Delegation. Patrick has been my Yoda on all things relationships for over a decade, and I’m thrilled to see him share more of his brain with you!

If you found this valuable, have you snagged my course on cultivating your network?

I’ve spent the past 12 years helping people like you grow their businesses and careers by cultivating the relationships that matter. I took everything I’ve learned and practiced, and put it in a professionally produced online course.

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