Are We There Yet?

Remember when you were a kid, packed into the car for the big family holiday? Thirty minutes in and you’d already be asking: “Are we there yet?”

I grew up in the middle of the UK, so the seaside was always hours away. My parents would distract us with “I spy with my little eye…”, but the truth is, the journey itself never felt like part of the holiday. For me, it didn’t start until we could see the sea.

Running a business is no different. Too often, we just want to fast-forward. Skip the journey. Avoid the mess, the delays, the stress, the setbacks. Get straight to the “holiday.”

But here’s the truth: you can’t.

No Shortcuts

After 31 years of running a small business, I’ve learned there are no shortcuts from A to B. You can’t sidestep the tough days, the sleepless nights, or the gut-punch setbacks. They’re part of the trip.

The wins feel amazing — when the planets align and everything clicks, you think: “Yes! I’ve nailed it.” But the next week (or sometimes the next day) can swing to “Why me?”

That’s normal. That’s business.

The Real Journey

There will be times you want to give up. Times you feel like you can’t do it anymore. But those moments are shaping you. The struggle, the doubts, the hard knocks — that’s where future greatness comes from.

Just like as kids we finally rolled up to the beach — sun, sea, and sand — in business you eventually hit those breakthrough moments. And here’s the kicker: the next time the journey begins, you’re not starting from scratch. You’ve got the experience, the resilience, and the scars that make the ride easier.

So stop asking “Are we there yet?”

Enjoy the game of I spy along the way. Because the journey is the holiday.