Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Remember The Why Behind The What
I have been so busy with the nuts and bolts, I've forgotten what I'm building! From my experience with small business owners, it's not uncommon for the principal to get so busy with the daily tasks, firefighting and general maintenance of their small enterprise that the dream that once fueled the flames of passion is obscured. This is one reason I've written so often about the need to create some freedom. Well, I seem to have fallen victim to this thief of dreams myself.
My obscured view is not from a lack of effort that is for sure. I come to the office at 04:00 or earlier and remain hunched over my keyboard into the evening. Many times, I don't get home until well after dinner time so tired that I simply snack and go to bed. I concentrate on the code of the day, which for businesses not associated with software development, it is similar to concentrating on the customer of the day. It's important and productive, but it does tend to steal the passion that once motivated the commitment to our business.
I was trained in the Air Force as an aircraft maintenance Crew Chief. It was a great job! I was assigned all kinds of aircraft, from the single seat A-10 to the multi-station, 8 engine B-52G. As a Crew Chief I was responsible for the entire aircraft, making sure that all the little parts and systems were operating properly so the entire aircraft could accomplish its assigned mission.
As the Crew Chief, I would determine what was wrong with the aircraft and then assign a specialist to correct the issue. I was not required to know the specifics of avionics or hydraulics, but I did have to know how they all worked and how the worked together. I had to have enough understanding of all systems so I could troubleshoot enough to make a proper diagnosis and assign the proper airman to the task. Just like a doctor who is a general physician, sometimes a specialist is needed in a particular area.
Small business owners are much like the Crew Chief. They have the big picture in mind and the knowledge to make it happen, but if bogged down on a detail, the overall mission may suffer. Enter the specialist! Or... the delegated employee or outsourced expert. The small business Crew Chief needs to know when to call for help, perhaps not because they can't do it themselves, perhaps the specialist will be able to free up the Crew Chief to address a few more issues while knowing the person helping is doing the job well and right.
I've spent the past several weeks on the nuts and bolts of Soky.net. While I consider this the foundational effort and key to effectively reaching my goals, I had lost some of the enthusiasm or excitement that motivated me. I simply would come to work and do what needed to be done and go home. A few things have happened recently that reminded me of my dreams, passions and goals. I have taken a step back to look at this vehicle that will carry me to the next chapter and I am excited.
Though there have been some disappointments, missed deadlines and unavoidable delays, Soky.net is coming along and will be all that I am building it to be. Sometimes one simply has to remember the why behind the what... I have and it has fanned the flames of an impassioned drive to bring my dreams to pass.
