2026 is the Year of the Horse, my friends, and I have a story to tell. I shared a version of it before on Episode 66 of The Stern Truth Business Unfiltered, but it bears repeating. The important lesson is that sometimes the universe finds a way to make sure you get the message, even if it takes a horse nearly knocking your head off to do it.
I’ll take you through that story and how ignoring the warning signs in business can be a huge detriment.
Ignoring the Signs
Back in the 1990s, I went to a horseback riding ranch for three days with a group of friends. There were about 25 of us out in a beautiful open field. Riding along, as you do, I wasn’t going fast enough for my own liking. So, I decided I wanted to go fast.
I started smacking the reins, and I kept smacking the reins. The horse turned around a few times and gave what I can only describe as a death stare. I ignored all those times the horse looked back at me, and I kept going.
On about the sixth smack, that horse had had enough. It bolted toward a massive tree in the field. I ducked just barely in time, clipped my shoulder on the branch, and flew off onto a rocky patch of ground. My back has never quite been the same since.
What is extremely obvious now is that the signs were there every single time. I just chose not to listen.
Business Gives You Signs Too
Hindsight is 20/20, as they say. And my story is not just about a stubborn horse and a stubborn guy. It is about what happens when we bury our heads in the sand and ignore what is right in front of us.
Think about your business. Take a hard look at all the areas, from marketing to operations to customer service. Are there warning signs you have been glossing over?
Here are some common warning signs small business owners usually see:
- Cheques bouncing or payroll being missed
- The same employee having the problems over and over
- Prospects consistently ghosting you
- Clients complaining, disappearing, or not paying on time
These issues are not random bad luck, my friends. These issues are YOUR horse turning around again and again, giving you the stare.
What You Can Do Right Now
What do you do when the signs show up? Here is a simple place to start:
- Step back and look at the big picture. Take a 30,000-foot view of your business. Where are things at, financially, with your team, and with your clients?
- Write it down without judgment. Get honest with yourself and do it on paper. What is working and what clearly is not? Write it all down.
- Get support. Talk to your bookkeeper, your accountant, or a coach or mentor who has walked a similar path. You should not be doing this alone.
The worst thing you can do is keep smacking the reins and hoping for a different result.
Get Back on the Horse
After my fall, the group leader offered to take me back on his horse for the rest of the day. I said no. I got back on my own horse, and, boy, I am glad I did.
Resilience in business will help you get the results you want. Getting knocked down is part of the journey. But resilience without reflection is just plain being stubborn. When you fall, get back up and pay attention to what caused it. Most likely, you’ll learn how not to fall that way again.
The Year of the Horse is your reminder. Do not let this year gallop by while you ignore the signs right in front of you.
If you are a business owner looking for a group to help you look at those warning signs, tackle the real challenges, and make progress happen, join me and other entrepreneurs in the ONtrepreneur Inner Circle today.
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