The most successful entrepreneurs and leader face challenging problems with no obvious solution. It’s something that comes up again and again with the people I work with, all over the world.
The J-Curve is one tool for breaking down problems in business, and indeed in life. It’s a nice graphic reflection of many trajectories for us humans here on earth. On a macro level, we are on J-Curve right now across policy, politics, economics and those two disruptive letters A and I.
How do you see the J Curve coming?
A break moment could take many shapes. Here are some thoughtful, engaging emoji pairings to accompany each of your one-liners:
- 🏡👋🎒We sell the home, kids leave.
- 🎯💼🚪We aim for something new in our career… or forced.
- 🤕📉🏃The number of injuries increase, our fitness decreases.
- 🤒🚚🌅Someone becomes sick, they move away, or they move on.
- ⛱️📆⏳We hit the halfway mark on the holiday, those days by the pool are numbered.
- 📊🔄💸our business sector and economics change.
- 📈💰⬇️ Our investment portfolio tanks
- 🤖✨🧠 AI
Our will often diminishes in these spheres of change.
Yet, humans are wired for progress. We shed our skin and cells once every seven years, we are made completely new every seven years. Some of our most profound pain comes from this process and our resistance builds character.
Holding onto baggage, the shards and the shrapnel from our past.
We love evolution and are designed to experience new things. However, we love comfort just as much. We are all contradictions.
This is what J-Curve looks like.
Following the curve
The process can happen over different periods of time, but follows a distinct set of “moments”.
1 – Comfort Zone
There is that period of time where we feel warm and comfortable. Comfort is a place where humans love and revel. The nourishment of Homelife, a well-paying job, cohesive business relationships, a successful sporting career, a wonderful relationship, a relaxing holiday, a great business trajectory, an investment thesis, a technology.
But all things come to an end….
2 – The Nudge Moment
That moment when we suddenly wake up to reality – or are pushed into its path. A tipping point, or a surprise, it pushes us out of the comfort zone and into…My most often quoted “With the Breakdowns, Come the Breakthroughs”
3 – The FFF Zone
A period of disorientation, confusion, and even anger. The downward trend. A stream of disbelieving thoughts – an outlet, but ultimately unhelpful. Where the F@*k is this going? Holy crap, holy moly. Why did this happen? I can’t believe this!
4 – The New Challenge
Every challenge is an opportunity. Finding a new challenge after being bumped from your comfort zone gives you a chance to refocus, to turn all of that energy towards creating. It might start as a hobby, or as a distraction, but day in and day out it becomes something more.
5 – The New Normal
At some point, the challenge begins to feel like a new way of life. In fact it’s less of a challenge and more of a joy. We create new things. It’s here we need to build something that is exciting, that draws us forward.
My J-Curve
I had my own J-Curve moment about five years ago. I wasn’t feeling enthusiastic or energised about Business, there was tension. There was nudges. And eventually I jumped off the treadmill and moved to the country, to be the next John Dutton, homeschooling my two kids, and riding horseback with them most days of the week.
Photo: What homeschooling looks like with Thomas and Betty-Rose
Some people said that was brave, but to me it felt natural. Living in the country was everything but a challenge. It was incredibly rewarding. The real challenge came when we moved back to the city.
Compadres started on the balcony of our beautiful place in the country. When I got back to the city, I found it a challenge on multiple Levels. Cityscape versus mountain views, a new business gaining momentum, a lot of trips away to London and New York. Sounds terrible, right, rest assured, I really don’t being far from my beautiful family.
Left: London, with serial entrepreneur, Adoreum Club Chairman, Marcus Watson, Right: Ayumi Moore Aoki, Founder, Women In Tech, Osaka Japan
However, now that I’ve gone through those ouch moments. I’m looking back at the momentum that’s been created, and the people I work with all around the world and think. “ I absolutely love this.” My J-Curve was about five years. But they can happen much quicker.
Humans create new futures all the time. It’s the amazing thing about us. And then when we’re in that place of joy, we can look back and often say “ I love this, I never want this to change”.
But then comfort sets in…
