Most entrepreneurs I know and work with have a business growth ‘to-do’ list – things that they know will help grow their business faster, yet they never seem to get done.

These important items might remain undone for weeks, months, or even years.

Some say they became an entrepreneur for the freedom to do what they want to do, when they want to do it.

Let’s face it, when you’re the boss, you no longer have to do anything you don’t want to, am I right?

You might say you are motivated to do whatever it takes, but when push comes to shove, do you flex your “I’m the boss” muscles a little more than your “desire to grow” muscle?

Allow me to share a story that might bring some clarity to this all-too-common dilemma.

In the early years of my entrepreneurial journey, I definitely let some of my fears block numerous important marketing strategies that I knew they would help me grow faster.

I had a powerful desire to grow a more profitable business faster, but I also loved being my own boss and there were things that I just wasn’t comfortable doing.

For example, I had a fear of public speaking, publishing a book, and I was definitely afraid of putting on my own seminars.

All of these things were proven business-building strategies that were on my ‘to-do’ list yet they never got done, and I was OK with that, because I was the boss and I was doing “ok”!

I kept figuring that I would be successful, but damn it, I’m going to do it my way!

I became quite good at justifying my own inaction because as I said, it was my business, and I had the freedom to make my own decisions.

Yeah, that worked for me for a while, until the time came when my stubborn inaction began to affect not only my business, but also what I needed to do as a father.

I believe most people will do things for others far more readily than they will do for themselves.

For example, let’s say it’s the end of a long week and you’re dog tired, looking forward to just chilling out when you get a call from a business friend who invites you to a networking event.

Going to this networking event might mean meeting a good prospective customer, but it’s your business and you’re tired, and so you pass on this opportunity and chill out.

Now, let’s say 10 minutes later you get a call from a friend who asks you to help him move a few things for his elderly mom, and it must be done tonight.

Tired as you are, my guess is that you go help your friend.

I contend that most people will do things for others, for someone they know or love, or perhaps for a worthy cause or charity, far more easily than they will for themselves.

We can be quite adept at justifying to ourselves why we won’t do something for ourselves, however, we typically do not want to let people down that we care about.

I contend that when you put the needs of someone else ahead of yourself, you will jump into action.

That simple truth is the essence of what I call Extreme Motivation, and here’s how I came to understand it.

When I was about six years into growing my business, I was doing okay.

I had grown a multiple six-figure business, but I wanted to do a lot better.

I was well aware of the benefits of being an author and a speaker, and I was certainly aware of the benefits of putting on my own live events as a coach.

Yet, because of fear, I could not get myself to step up and write a book or become a speaker and stand in front of a group of 20 or 200 people and give a talk.

Yeah, I know, most people are deathly afraid of public speaking so at least I wasn’t alone.

However, there was a point in my business when my twin girls were talking about going to college, and I had a strong desire as their father to help them with college.

I also knew that they would eventually get married (a whole different level of expense!) and the bottom line was that I was in no financial shape to help them as much as I wanted to.

As a business owner, for six years I had easily justified to myself why I wouldn’t do things that I knew in my heart would help me grow.

However, now I was faced with the knowledge that my own inaction or refusal to step up and do hard things in my business would affect not only my ability to grow my business, but much more importantly my refusal to step up was having very real negative consequences on people I truly loved.

And that was simply not something I could justify.

As a dad, I did not want to let my girls down and I knew that growing my business would help increase my income and we’d be able to what we had dreamed about doing for our girls.

Not being able to step up and take care of my duties as a father bothered me greatly, so armed with this “Extreme Motivation” I jumped into action.

I did many things to kick my self-limiting fears, and guess what?

It turns out I became a pretty darn good public speaker, even to the point of enjoying it!

I’ve also published 12 books that I know have not only helped thousands of entrepreneurs and small business owners but inspired them to move beyond their own self-imposed inactions as well.

And yes, these actions have substantially increased my business revenue and ability to do more for my family.

Finally, and once and for all, I took what I saw as dramatic action, not because I knew it would help me grow my business, but because it would help people I truly loved.

That my friends is the essence of Extreme Motivation.

Are you an entrepreneur who has been holding off doing hard things in your business?

Perhaps you too are afraid to write a book, give a speech, start a podcast, or put on your own seminars.

Perhaps despite all evidence that it would be a wise move, you’re afraid to invest your money to work with a business coach.

If thus far you’ve been able to justify your own inaction because damn it, it’s your business and nobody can make you do things you’re not comfortable doing, I urge you to get some Extreme Motivation.

Figure out who you’re letting down with your inaction and playing small ball.

Figure out you’re not helping as much as you would like.

Find out what charity or great cause you’re not supporting as much as you could if you stepped up and did the hard things you know have been proven to grow your business.

If you have a heart to serve others, to support some worthy causes or simply your own family, I urge you to focus more on how your inaction is affecting others and then put Extreme Motivation to work.

You’ll not only surprise yourself with how much success you can create in your business, but you’ll be smiling even more because of the positive impact you are making, thanks to your newfound courage and higher levels of success.

Want to put me to work on your success team? Connect with me at www.GetJimPalmer.com.