Entrepreneurship for Buddhists: there’s no “there,” but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t reach for it

There’s something I really dislike about the business coaching industry (consulting, advising, whatever you want to call it): there’s lots of messaging, which turns into a mythical belief, that once we do a certain set of things, we’ll be “there.” And this there will unlock fortune, fame, and freedom that will provide the ultimate satisfaction, joy, and fulfillment we seek. And yes, we can get to the next stage and unlock new levels of money, recognition, and flexibility. But I try to be really honest and clear with every small business owner I speak to: each of these “there’s”, is in fact, just a stage. A staging area, if you will. A milestone in the entrepreneurship lifecycle. There is no there. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t reach for it. I call this: entrepreneurship for Buddhists.

I’m a big believer in setting a vision and goals, both long and short term. As a business owner, you should have an end-game in mind. That end game may project into the next few years or the next few decades. So, you also must have milestones along the way. They’ll keep you focused, motivated, and moving forward. Some will be big and some will be small. On paper, the big ones will feel like the “when-we-get-there-we’ve-made-it” ones. And when you do get there, you should be excited and proud, celebrate, and relax into it, for a bit.

Here’s an example: the strategic priority we typically start with in both Advisory Practice and Small Business MBA, is product prioritization and pricing. Why? Because it gives clients and students a gigantic, foundational lift. Getting them to this there as soon as possible makes everything else more possible because we’ve lifted the floor of their business, so to speak. It’s the most effective and efficient lift for our target market. Getting paid 50% more by doing 30% less is a leapfrog forward and feels absolutely incredible! It feels like – and is – a huge milestone. Entrepreneurs think, “Things couldn’t be better!” Until they start wondering…

“What’s next?” or feel unsettled in the settled-in life. And then the cycle begins again. Some <cough, Dave Sellers> call it insatiable. Yet, for some of us, these cycles and phases are simply a process that we enjoy. If you’re the laser-focused small business owner, you have a great business and this isn’t a hobby or a trial run. It’s your career, and you want to pour everything into growing it. Your goal is to ensure that it can work and live beyond you.​​​​​​​​ This process, this cycle, the act of trying to get there, is in your blood. And that’s totally okay!

Contrary to what some may think in the outside world, it’s not about being unhappy, chasing the next thing, or being on a quest to acquire more. My inner Buddhist knows that there’s no there, but I find meaning in the process of pursuit.

If you’re a true entrepreneur, there will always be a part of you – a part of us – itching to get to the next there. And maybe secretly wondering: is this the place that will unlock everything I’ve been hoping for?

The answer… is no. It’s not the place. And neither is the next one. BUT it’s okay to want it, to reach for it. The zeitgeist used to say that happiness was on the other side of the hustle. And today, the zeitgeist says, “Don’t hustle! Happiness is in the release. Cease the striving and accept what is.”

I reject both.

Instead, I believe that happiness lies somewhere in the messy middle – or in the gray, as I like to say. We can strive and release. Get there and reset for the next one. Achieve the milestone and say, “What’s next?”

You can step off the hamster wheel and know that staying in the cage will leave you restless.

So no, getting there isn’t going to solve all your problems or leave you content forevermore. Because when you get there, a new world will be unlocked. And it will contain multitudes: dynamic self-realizations, new challenges, and unimaginable opportunities. And the thing is: you can’t even imagine what’s waiting for you, until you get…

There.

image from Women’s Health, of my friend: author, meditation, & yoga teacher Rebecca Pacheco. Shameless plug for my friend 😉 If you want to hone your Buddhist skill of release, I strongly recommend her books: Still Life + Do Your Om Thing