The 1 Reason Many People Fail In Their Small Business Career
I've led a small business for a long time.
Over the years, I have learned that most employees who want to grow in the company fail because of one thing:
Entitlement issues.
They think they'll become the next CEO because they're doing their job. However, even with mentorship, the reality is that growth and success require much more than just showing up and doing the bare minimum.
I have a tiny ego but a ton of confidence.
I constantly remind my team, especially the ones who appear entitled, that if they can do my job better than me, I'll fire myself as CEO, and they can take my job—that's the truth. After 15 years, I'm still CEO.
Here are three key reasons why people fail in their careers and what leaders can do to help their employees succeed:
Reason 1: Letting emotions control them
One of the biggest reasons why people fail in their careers is because they let their emotions control them.
They make decisions based on their feelings rather than logic—leading to poor judgment, mistakes, and missed opportunities.
As leaders, it's vital to help employees develop emotional intelligence to learn to manage their emotions effectively.
This means teaching them to identify their emotions, regulate their behavior, and communicate effectively.
Reason 2: Expecting spoon-fed opportunities
Another reason why people fail in their careers is that they expect to be spoon-fed opportunities.
They think that success will come to them without any effort on their part. But the truth is that success requires focus, discipline, and diligent work. As leaders, it's our job to help employees develop a growth mindset and understand that they must work for success.
This means setting clear expectations, providing feedback, and creating opportunities for growth and development.
You can help set the path, but your team must decide to walk it themselves.
Reason 3: Making excuses instead of learning and improving
Finally, many people fail in their careers because they make excuses instead of learning and improving.
They blame others for their failures and don't take responsibility for their mistakes. As a leader, it's crucial to create a culture of accountability where employees are encouraged to take ownership of their work and learn from their mistakes. This means providing feedback opportunities, coaching, mentoring, and helping employees develop a growth mindset.
Poor results should never be a surprise.
A great anecdote to entitlement is when people know they're not producing the right results. The same is true for superior producers; you can easily spot who is a grow player and provide the correct path and resources to help them flourish.
Overcoming failure and succeeding in a career
If you're an employee who wants to grow in your career, don't let entitlement issues hold you back.
Take initiative, make sacrifices, and focus on daily learning and improving.
And if you're a leader, remember that your employees' success is your success.
Help your team succeed by creating a culture of accountability, providing feedback and coaching, and helping them develop the emotional intelligence and growth mindset needed to succeed. Invest in their growth and development, create opportunities for them to learn and improve, and help them overcome the obstacles that stand in their way.
Doing so will create a culture of excellence where everyone can thrive and succeed.
