Written by Hayden Mater, Serial Entrepreneur
Hayden Mater is a professional life enthusiast and serial entrepreneur. He is the founder of Mater Made, a micro brand watch company, and the department head for the US West lumber department at Richmond International Forest Products, a commodity trading firm.
As a serial entrepreneur, the journey has been a mosaic of challenges, triumphs, and invaluable lessons. One of the most profound insights I’ve gained is that hard work beats the challenger every time. The relentless pursuit of goals and unwavering dedication have proven to be the ultimate game-changers. Building a brand or business involves more than just hard work, however. Undeniable success requires hard work, planning, and consistency. Here are some ways to plan, stick to the plan, and embrace blazing your trail.
The plan
This is the first step of doing anything, right? How do you achieve those great levels of success without a plan? The answer is you don’t. But the planning can be the easy part. The plan should be measurable and broken down into bite-sized goals. Honestly, the easiest way to do this is to come up with your end goal. Come up with that pie-in-the-sky, larger-than-life dream that you’re after. Then, work backward.
1. Ask yourself, to get where I want to be, how do I get there?
Break that end goal down into checkpoints as you work your way backward. When it comes to a lofty sales goal, you need to figure out the how.
“I want $100,000 in gross sales by the end of the year 2025.”
How many units do I need to sell? How many customers do I need? What is that sale number per month, per week, per call? Who and where are the customers? Critical thinking involves asking yourself questions to better understand the subject.
2. Make sure you have checkpoints that are measurable
Nothing kills confidence and motivation along the journey faster than not being able to find small wins. I would recommend putting metrics in place to be able to measure and see the success. This is crucial to maintaining your positive mental momentum. Your wins in the beginning will be petite, but recognizing them is crucial to holding the course.
3. Be able to pivot from the original plan
While a well-thought-out plan provides direction, flexibility is key. Often, your first rough draft won't work perfectly, and being able to pivot is crucial in any entrepreneurial journey.
“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face” – Mike Tyson.
An example of this would be When I launched Mater Made™, my microbrand watch company, we opened for pre-sale during the production of our first model, ‘The Don’. The plan was to do social media marketing, but we initially focused a lot of our efforts locally with friends and family on presales. I was highly optimistic we would easily pre-sell half of the watches. I naively thought, of all the people I know plus the extended network of friends and family, I can surely get at least half of the watches presold. That didn’t happen.
We achieved a few preorders, but most watches remained unsold when they became in stock. I had to quickly pivot, attend events, and spend more money on content generation to gain the momentum we needed in sales. The idea of selling out during pre-orders as an unheard-of new microbrand was wishful thinking. However, a bit of romanticized hope helped me push through the initial hurdles.
Consistency
Through these roller-coaster experiences, I’ve learned that the entrepreneurial spirit thrives on structure and a consistent approach to work. It’s about embracing the journey and continually striving for excellence. To grow and scale a business, the key factor that yields results over time is the repetition of your efforts. So often, I hear stories or read articles about people who simply kept showing up and never stopped the plan. They did not give up. I have witnessed the people who make it to the top are the ones who are consistent and keep going.
It’s not easy to be consistent with your business plan, but this is one way to separate yourself from the competition. There will always be distractions and temptations to waver however, staying focused and committed can lead to remarkable results.
An example of consistency paying off would be Steph Curry from the Golden State Warriors.
Steph is known for holding the record for most 3-pointers made in NBA history, his incredible work ethic, and his dedication to practice. He makes approximately 500 shots every day, which adds up to around 3,500 shots per week. In the NBA season, playoffs included, there are 30 weeks. Steph shoots 105,000 shots in an NBA season and makes roughly 1,500 field goals for the season.
105,000 shots attempted to make 1,500. That’s a 1.43% success rate!
However, when viewed through the lens of consistency, his success as a top scorer in the NBA can be attributed to his unwavering dedication. This relentless practice routine has been the defining factor that elevates him above the competition.
Obsession with a dash of madness
When it comes to entrepreneurship, being a little crazy can be a powerful asset. You must be crazy enough to believe in those left-field thoughts that pop into your head. Believe they are attainable. You must be a little crazy to even begin to pursue them and take the necessary risks to make these things come to fruition.
It’s important to also have passion for those business ideas. I would argue this is more important than anything else. Passion will carry you through those emotional times where everything else will tell you to quit. Passion will help you block out all the noise and optimize your time effectively. Find something you are passionate about and there is a chance it will be a lot more enjoyable with a much higher success rate.
Obsessing over what you are doing means immersing yourself completely in your vision and being relentless in your pursuit of success. This kind of dedication often requires a level of intensity and passion that others might find extreme. But it's this very obsession that can drive you to achieve extraordinary results.
“I say chase your dreams. Do that thing that bothers you. Do that thing that keeps you up at night. That thing that you wakes up in the middle of the night and you get a new idea. That’s what you have to chase.” – Steve Harvey
Pursuing a business goal or any type of goal can often be a solitary endeavor. It’s a path that is not frequented and a path that lacks directions or even road signs. I kind of picture it like a dimly lit, wooded trail. The trail has pockets of incredible potential and opportunities that lurk in the shadows. Moving on this path has one requirement.
Be bold
This kind of boldness can lead to groundbreaking innovations and new market opportunities. When you push the envelope and venture into uncharted territory, you open yourself up to the possibility of creating something truly unique and impactful.
In essence, the entrepreneurial journey is a blend of meticulous planning, unwavering consistency, and a touch of madness. By embracing these principles, you can navigate the roller coaster of entrepreneurship with enthusiasm and resilience, ultimately achieving the success you envision.
Make your plan. Be consistent. Stay obsessed.
Read more from Hayden Mater
Hayden Mater, Serial Entrepreneur
Hayden Mater is a dynamic professional who seamlessly blends the worlds of commodity lumber trading and innovative watchmaking. With years of experience in the lumber industry, he has honed his skills in navigating complex markets and securing top-tier deals. In addition, as the founder of Mater Made, his micro brand watch company, Hayden brings precision and passion to every venture. Dedicated to excellence in health, work, and family life, Hayden cherishes every opportunity to grow and inspire others. With a commitment to professionalism and a drive to motivate those around him, he is a true leader in both the lumber industry and the entrepreneurial world. Click to learn more about his journey and vision.
