The biggest lie

I was asked on a podcast:

“What’s the biggest lie entrepreneurs tell themselves?”

After thinking for a moment, my answer was clear:

“Next year will be better.”

This isn’t just an entrepreneurial mindset, but a universal one. It’s how we avoid confronting reality.

We protect our self-image and push the truth about our business or career into the future.

I know business owners who have been saying this for 15 years, and they are essentially in the same place.

The four questions that expose the lie

If you find yourself saying next year will be better, ask:

• Why will it be better?
• How will you achieve results that have eluded you?
• What is the plan that is materially different?
• Who is holding you accountable?

I’m not saying next year can’t be better. I’m saying that based on most answers I hear—it won’t be.

The math doesn’t lie

Let’s take a common scenario:

You’ve spent 8 years building a $2M business at 20% profit. Now you believe that in two years you’ll reach $3M.

That outcome is absolutely possible.

But the people who actually achieve it have:

• A detailed, data-driven plan
• Clear priorities
• A real accountability system
• And a willingness to change their daily behavior

Most people have none of these.

They have hope.

And hope is not a strategy.

What actually needs to change

If you want different results:

1. Know your starting point
2. Understand the math behind your goal
3. Break it down into monthly targets
4. Compare required performance vs. current results
5. Assess your team—do you have the right people?
6. Redefine your daily priorities

That last one is where most people fail.

You don’t get dramatically different results doing the same things.

This applies to careers too

This same lie shows up in careers.

People wait to be promoted. They wait to get paid more, stay in the wrong job too long and don’t take ownership of increasing their value.

The same framework applies:

• Where do you want to be in two years?
• What is your plan?
• What will you do differently every day?
• How will you hold yourself accountable?

The hard truth

I’ve hired and managed hundreds of people.

Almost all believed next year would be better.

Very few took control of making it better.

Again—the strategy was hope.

Related: 5 operational bottlenecks slowing your business growth