When I encounter entrepreneurs who are trying to rush the development of their product or customer acceptance of their services, I tell them that 9 women can’t make a baby in one month. Some things just take time and it is impossible to rush them. Working on the set of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition this past weekend I did learn, however, that sometimes the seemingly impossible can be done.

Building a house in a week seemed impossible until I witnessed it. In beholding what seemed like perfectly choreographed chaos, I gleaned some lessons that business owners and really anyone in general can learn and apply to whatever it is their trying to achieve that might seem impossible at times.

First, you must appreciate the people who help you along the way. As a volunteer, and one of many, I can’t tell you how many times I heard from the staff – and some of the stars – “we really appreciate what you’re doing. We couldn’t do it without you.” Especially gracious was Didi. Even under the stress of trying to finish on the morning of the reveal, she was kind and patient and didn’t want to offend anyone. She seems like a class act and I went out of my way to try and help her.
Second, planning and organization were crucial. I can’t tell you the millions of details that had to be tended to and somewhere, somehow, there was someone who had it all together and making sure it was happening. I’m not even sure I could tell you who that was on the set. I can’t imagine what their pert chart looks like but I am certain there is one somewhere.
Thirdly – and I think this is the most important – was that flexibility was KEY. As with any project, things don’t always come together as envisioned. You have to remain flexible while keeping your vision on the bigger picture – what is really important? When one of the stars asked someone to do something for them and it didn’t come back exactly the way it had been envisioned (do you like my generalities here to protect a not-yet-aired show?), they had to go with it. Time was of the essence and they had to focus on the bigger picture and adjust their plans to make it work. This is what I call “Focused Flexibility” and if you want to be successful, think about what that means for you.

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I was talking with a friend and ACTiVATE Alum, Halima Aquino, this past weekend and marveling at her tales of having recently completed a sprint triathlon. Wow. I am in awe of all of you out there who have done that and I’m sure many have done more.

Since I can’t stand to run, much less swim in cold water, I had to ask her what compelled her to do this. I may have even had the “are you crazy?” look on my face when I did. The answer I received was unexpected but it makes sense. It is something many of us can relate to and possibly have done: she needed to cross the finish line.

You see, she’s working on starting up a new technology business (LilyPad Sensors) which tends to take longer and require more capital (i.e. MONEY) than many other businesses. She was frustrated because things were not happening as fast as she felt they should (they never do!), so she decided to take on another challenge: to participate in a sprint triathlon as only the second race in which she would ever compete in her adult 40-something life.

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