We've all seen that motivational poster—the straight line labeled "what we think growth looks like" next to the chaotic squiggly mess that says "what it actually looks like." We know intellectually that success isn't linear, yet we still expect it to be for us.

This misconception is one of the biggest killers of businesses and hope I've seen in almost 20 years of doing this work.

Here's the reality: everything in life operates in cycles. Day and night. The water cycle. The economy. Your business will do the same—expansion and contraction, ups and downs. Sometimes bigger, sometimes smaller, but always cycling.

The problem? You're looking at the wrong timeframe. Comparing this week to last week or this month to last month doesn't give you enough data to see actual trends. You need at least 90 days of consistent action (hello, FAFO method) to draw meaningful conclusions.

Think of it like the tide at the ocean. If it only came in, it would flood everything. Instead, it flows in and out, in and out, all day, every day, around the world. That's natural. That's how it's supposed to work.

Your job isn't to never have slow periods or rough days. It's to get good at sustaining through the trough while riding the waves. Stop panicking when it's low tide—it's coming back in.

When you're in a downswing, use that time strategically. What do you want to regroup around? What's been annoying you that you finally have time to replace? What new offering have you been wanting to launch?

The only way you won't hit your goal is if you stop before you get there.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Episode 2: "The FAFO Method: Why and How to f*ck around and find out in your business" (https://fckyeahpod.buzzsprout.com/2198615)

Prefer video? Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/_Q6HUV7FPQw

*****
I’m Kristen King, and I’ve been a coach for pretty much my entire professional career — since the early 2000s after my first solo business hit six figures less than 2 years out of college. Now, I teach humans from all walks of life how to shift from "fuck me" to "fuck yeah" so they can thrive in work, business, relationships, health, and more.

Over the last 15+ years, I've worked in for-profit and non-profit organizations across multiple industries, earned an MBA and a master's in publishing, given countless presentations and trainings for groups ranging from 4 to 6,000, and supported clients — both individuals and organizations — on four continents.

This isn't my first rodeo. In fact, there's been a lot of rodeos. So saddle up, friend, because we're about to go on an awesome ride together. I'm so glad you're here.

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