Founder's Desk: You don't have to feel terrible if you are the rare Founder who missed "Yoga Day" yet again
Because you are a Yogi already. Hold on! Do not shut the door window on me - just yet.
I see you, Founder - clinging to many pendulums, swinging from one end of duality to another, brushing aside bruises as you discover the balance needed for the day, much like in yogic practice. You don't need to believe me; apply these tests and find out for yourself if you fit the definition of the Entrepreneurial Yogi.
Pendulum 1: Outer and Inner Environment
You are constantly on the run, chasing metrics that define the success of your business, influenced by business gurus and perhaps by your own investors. What is the competition doing? How much are they spending? How are they retaining their talent? Finally, how fast is everyone growing?
An eye on the outer environment is imperative not only for our development but even for survival. Akin to the physical development and perception that comes with the practice of Yoga.
Do you also have an eye on your organization's internal environment? Starting with the guiding light or purpose of the organization, its vision and values, that you live as an embodiment? Do you give as much attention to the "How" of the path as you give to the destination itself and try to remain centered in your truth when stressors arise? Much like Yoga, do you wish for your inner compass and outer achievement to merge and amplify your impact?
Pendulum 2: Growth and Strength
Are there times when you focus on the strength and viability of your business and the capacity building of your people? Are there other times when you take that leap of faith and grow exponentially, trusting that your systems can handle the load?
Focus on strength for too long; you thwart growth and lose steam. Chase growth at the cost of strength; you know where that will land.
How profitable do you want to be before you can accelerate your dreams?
You don't swing between these decisions during your annual planning process in a retreat. You swing every time there is a change in the macroeconomic environment, and your business or industry fundamentals are altered. Sometimes you swing across the spectrum when people question you, as they often will.
You know there are no right answers. There is an answer that fits today's context, and you hope to find that, relying on the intelligence of your own internal systems and yourself.
Pendulum 3: Will and Surrender
You know that going to the next level does not come easy. Hard work is involved, and sacrifice - not only from you but also from your loved ones. Instant gratification is not the candy you are after. You are after the gold mine at the end of the rainbow, and that can take everything you have in you.
Much like Yoga, you know that without holding your breath for 2 additional seconds, you cannot make the next move, however much you want to copy your gifted neighbour striking impossible poses. “Will” is only one of the ingredients here.
Along with it, you need your intuition and kindness - to your own self. To keep at the grind.
Sometimes after giving everything, you can only wait without expectation or pressure.
You know you can do it best, but you surrender the impulse to do it all by yourself and hire committed teams. You know you can get it done perfectly, but surrender the impulse in service of completion, and so on.
Pendulum 4: You are (un)important
As a Founder, you undoubtedly revel in the impact you create every day. The buck stops with you. If you don't do it, who will? Much like parenting, the closeness with which you can observe your impact can be terrifying. With awareness of your imperfections, the power you wield can be paralyzing.
And in the next breath, you could realize that you are only the vehicle anyway. For bringing into this world this beautiful solution that will uplift several lives, beyond your own death.
You could never do it alone and have needed and taken help from many people and networks.
You are a child asking for help all the time, and that, thankfully, puts you in place.
Pendulum 5: Running and Resting
You are the epitome of activity. You make things that don't exist and bend rules that don't serve.
Speed, impatience and goals are your meals for the day.
And yet you know it is not a sprint but a marathon. If you don't rest, you will damage something vital. A muscle, or perhaps your vitality.
Boring as it may sound, as someone wise said, "Balance is the highest state that you can live out of".
You don't know if you can achieve this balance every day. You don't know if you can ever “achieve” and be done with it.
But dear Founder, you indulge in calisthenics with these many pendulums, and try, day in and day out; and because of that, you are a Yogi.
