Gap and Gain, Cost and Value, Heaven and Hell

Hi Friend!

Managing a company, let alone, founding one, can be very isolating. Feelings of failure, being an imposter, or simply not moving ahead are common – especially when some of the most celebrated people today are entrepreneurs and success stories are everywhere. If these feelings are familiar, you’re not alone. We see it all the time with the founders and businesspeople we support.

But there is something that we have spotted that we think sets some founders and managers apart. Perspective. The lens through which they view themselves, their business and their environment makes all the difference. We’ve found that these leaders are not only happier, but time and time again they are more successful. Two examples to help illustrate the point…

Gap and Gain

With any business, you will have targets. Revenue, Profit, Cost, Number of Clients, TACOS…the list is eternal. Most business owners (myself included until recently), view progress towards targets by how far they have to go until they reach their target. It’s only natural right? You have your target, “How much left until its achieved?!” Push, push, until you get there. This is the Gap. But there’s another way of looking at it. Instead, you ask, “I have my target, but this is where I started and this is how far I have come towards it”. This perspective, is the Gain. The two are not necessarily mutually exclusive, in fact they should be complementary. By changing the perspective to viewing the gains you have made, you can at least have more cause for celebration and positively (and sanity!) as you move towards targets. This is a concept coined by Dan Sullivan and Ben Hardy and can make all the difference, especially when things are not going your way.

Cost and Value

In business our natural instinct is to minimise cost. And in fact, this is vital if you are going to have profits and operate the business. But when a focus on cost overshadows the depth of our horizons, leaders start to limit their potential. Day in and out we see the most successful (and happier) companies are run by managers who view opportunities through a lens of value and the potential unleashed. It’s a focus on growth that makes the difference. This applies to the types of staff we hire, projects we undertake and opportunities we pursue.

Heaven and Hell

Ultimately, its our perspective on things that helps define their colour in a heavenly or hellish light, and define business success. Time and time again we see this ring true with the brands we work with, and we also see it in our own businesses. Just as artists select their palette and brushes with intention, as business owners and managers we must carefully choose our perspectives. The dichotomy of Gap and Gain, and Cost and Value, isn't merely about metrics and management—it's about setting the tone for our daily experiences and long-term aspirations. Opt for Gain: celebrate each step forward, no matter how small. Prioritize value over cost: invest in the future, not just in the present.

This isn't just business acumen; it's a philosophy for growth and fulfilment. By seeing beyond the immediate challenges and focusing on the potential for greatness, we paint our ventures not with brushes of fear and limitation, but with strokes of possibility and promise. It is here, in this artful balance of reality and vision, that we can turn the mundane into the magnificent and transform potential hells into palpable heavens. Choose wisely, and let your business—and your life—be a masterpiece of your own making.

One love,
Ali and Zamir