From Necessary to Impossible: The Entrepreneur's Path to Greatness
"Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible." St. Francis of Assisi
Every entrepreneur, business owner, and leader faces moments where the vision ahead feels overwhelming. The gap between where you are and where you want to be seems insurmountable. The mountain of challenges, decisions, and risks can make even the most passionate individuals question their journey. But St. Francis of Assisi's timeless wisdom reminds us that extraordinary success isn't about taking giant leaps; it's about starting with what's necessary, expanding into what's possible, and ultimately achieving what once seemed impossible.
Step 1: Doing What is Necessary
When you're launching or scaling a business, the first step isn't glamorous. It's about tackling the essentials, securing funding, setting up processes, hiring the right people, or making tough decisions.
For many entrepreneurs, this phase is daunting. The necessary tasks can be tedious, overwhelming, and sometimes discouraging. However, skipping them leads to weak foundations. Just like a building needs a solid structure, a business must have its fundamentals in place.
What this looks like in action:
- Defining your core business model and value proposition.
- Managing cash flow and financial responsibilities.
- Creating systems and processes for efficiency.
- Establishing leadership habits that set the tone for your company culture.
Many leaders get stuck here because they focus on what they lack rather than what they can control. But by consistently handling what is necessary, momentum begins to build.
Step 2: Doing What is Possible
Once the essentials are in place, new opportunities emerge. You start seeing the possibilities that weren't visible before. You hire the right team members, expand your reach, and refine your services or products. Growth doesn't come from sudden leaps, it comes from a series of strategic steps.
What this looks like in action:
- Expanding your network and collaborations.
- Developing tasks to free up time for strategic thinking.
- Innovating based on customer feedback.
- Scaling operations to serve a larger audience.
At this stage, what once seemed difficult becomes routine. Your confidence grows. You see progress. You begin to realize that success is within reach.
Step 3: Achieving the Impossible
Then, almost without realizing it, you look back and see what you've accomplished what once felt out of reach. What was once a distant goal is now your reality. The risks that seemed insurmountable are now the milestones you've conquered.
Think of every successful entrepreneur: Elon Musk, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Jobs, Sara Blakely. None of them started by doing the impossible. They took the necessary first steps, turned them into possibilities, and through relentless action, made the impossible happen.
What this looks like in action:
- Becoming an industry leader in your space
- Scaling beyond your initial market
- Leading a team that thrives on innovation and growth
- Leaving a lasting impact on your industry and community
The Takeaway: Success is Built, Not Discovered
Many people look at wildly successful entrepreneurs and assume they had an extraordinary advantage. But in reality, they simply followed this process:
- They started with the necessary.
- They expanded into what was possible.
- Over time, they found themselves achieving the impossible.
So if you're in the trenches, wondering if you'll ever get to where you want to be, remember: take the necessary step. The rest will follow.
What's the one necessary step you need to take today?
Want to read more, here are a few resources:
The Spanx Story: What's Underneath the Success of Sara Blakely - Charlie Wetzel
Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future - Ashlee Vance
The Path Made Clear: Discovering Your Life's Direction and Purpose - Oprah Winfrey
Steve Jobs - Walter Isaacson
The Lean Startup - Eric Ries
Atomic Habits - James Clear
