In the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, there’s a critical secret that separates successful businesses from those that stagnate: velocity. It’s not just about having a great idea or working hard—it’s about how quickly you can move, learn, and adapt.
Imagine business as a high-speed learning laboratory. Every offer you make, every pitch you present, every negotiation you enter—even when you fail—is a valuable data point. Failure isn’t a roadblock; it’s accelerated learning. The more attempts you make, the faster you’ll understand what works and what doesn’t.
This philosophy challenges the traditional approach of perfecting every single detail before taking action. Instead, it advocates for rapid iteration. Make the offer. Test the concept. Learn from the result. Repeat. Each interaction becomes a stepping stone, providing insights that refine your strategy.
Entrepreneur Codie Sanchez captures this essence perfectly, noting that the number in your bank account is a direct reflection of how fast you move. This isn’t just a motivational quote—it’s a fundamental business principle. Speed creates opportunities. Hesitation breeds missed chances. Similar to Sanchez, I had a mentor who told me I wasn’t reaching my financial ambition because I wasn’t failing enough. While I was initially confused by the observation, I learned that wealth is earned by making more offers than your competitors are making. Sales is a game of volume and velocity, not perfection.
The Velocity Mindset
Developing a velocity mindset means:
- Embracing imperfect action over perfect inaction
- Viewing failures as rapid learning experiences
- Continuously adjusting your approach based on real-world feedback
- Moving decisively and confidently
Think of successful entrepreneurs and innovators. They didn’t wait for the perfect moment—they created momentum. They understood that waiting for absolute certainty means watching opportunities dissolve.
Practical Application
How can you implement velocity in your business?
- Set goals that scare you a little. If you are comfortable having two new business meetings a week, commit to having five.
- Create systems and processes that allow for quick decision-making. Often the proposal process is a bottleneck in organizations. Find ways to streamline this process so you can make more offers, faster.
- Develop a tolerance for calculated risks. Remember, perfection is not the goal. Getting more yeses than your competitors is the goal.
- Measure and learn from every interaction. The more you fail, the more you learn.
Remember, velocity isn’t about recklessness. It’s about strategic, swift movement. It’s calculating your risks, making informed decisions, and moving forward with ambition and speed.
The business world rewards those who can adapt quickly, learn continuously, and maintain forward momentum. Your success isn’t determined by perfection—it’s determined by your ability to move, learn, and grow faster than your competition.
Start moving. Start learning. Accelerate your business velocity.