How I Stay Motivated Even When Progress Seems Slow: Knowing Your Customers' "Jobs to Be Done"

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Aug 12, 2023
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How I Stay Motivated Even When Progress Seems Slow: Knowing Your Customers' "Jobs to Be Done"
In our pursuit of personal and professional goals, it's all too common to hit roadblocks and feel discouraged when progress seems slow. However, maintaining motivation is crucial to keep pushing forward and ultimately achieve success. So, how do we stay motivated when we can't see progress? Let's explore two seemingly unrelated concepts: Trusting the process and understanding your customers' "jobs to be done."
Trust the Process: Finding an Anchor Point
When we can't see progress, it's essential to trust the process and believe that our efforts will eventually yield results. One way to do this is by finding an anchor point - a reference point against which we measure our progress. By recording where we started from and regularly comparing ourselves to that starting point, we can see the incremental improvements we've made over time. This provides a tangible sense of progress, even when it may not be immediately visible. Trusting the process means staying committed and understanding that small steps forward are still steps in the right direction.
Find the Joy: Emphasizing the Process over Outcomes
It's easy to get caught up in the outcome as the only thing that matters. But focusing solely on the end result can lead to feelings of frustration and even failure. Instead, finding joy in the process itself can be a powerful motivator. Embracing the journey, celebrating small victories, and recognizing the value of the lessons learned along the way can help us stay motivated even when progress seems slow. As the saying goes, "It's not about the destination; it's about the journey." By appreciating the process, we can find fulfillment in the pursuit of our goals.
Knowing Your Customers' "Jobs to Be Done": Understanding Progress and Innovation
In the business world, understanding your customers' "jobs to be done" is crucial for success. Rather than solely focusing on customer characteristics or product attributes, companies should aim to understand the progress that customers are trying to make in a given circumstance. This concept, popularized by Clayton Christensen and his colleagues, emphasizes that customers "hire" products or services to accomplish a specific job. If a product does the job well, customers are likely to hire it again in the future. On the other hand, if it fails to meet their needs, they will seek alternatives.
The concept of "jobs to be done" goes beyond mere function; it encompasses the complex and multifaceted nature of customers' circumstances. It acknowledges that jobs have powerful social and emotional dimensions, influencing customers' choices and preferences. By deeply understanding the job a customer needs to be done, companies can innovate and differentiate their offerings in ways that competitors may not comprehend.
One example of this is the success of a doll company, where the founder recognized that the dolls were cherished not only for their physical attributes but also for the experiences, stories, and connections they facilitated. This understanding allowed the company to create a unique value proposition that competitors struggled to replicate. By focusing on the experiences and emotional connections associated with the job to be done, the company found long-term competitive advantage.
Actionable Advice:
- 1. Trust the process and find an anchor point: Record where you started from and regularly measure your progress against that starting point. Seeing incremental improvements can provide motivation even when progress seems slow.
- 2. Embrace the journey and find joy in the process: Instead of solely focusing on the outcome, appreciate the lessons learned and small victories along the way. Finding fulfillment in the pursuit of your goals can keep you motivated during challenging times.
- 3. Understand your customers' "jobs to be done": Rather than solely relying on customer characteristics or product attributes, strive to understand the progress your customers are trying to make in specific circumstances. By deeply understanding their needs and desires, you can innovate and differentiate your offerings in ways that competitors may overlook.
Conclusion
Staying motivated when progress seems slow can be challenging, but it's crucial for long-term success. By trusting the process, finding joy in the journey, and understanding your customers' "jobs to be done," you can maintain motivation and keep pushing forward. Remember to measure your progress against an anchor point, appreciate the process itself, and prioritize understanding your customers' needs. With these actionable strategies, you can stay motivated and achieve your goals, even when progress may not be immediately evident.
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