Mountains, Valleys, and Missiles: Navigating the Cycles of Business Life
Hello, this is Jayme Dill, and Happy New Year!
As we step into 2025, I want to share a framework that has profoundly shaped how I view both success and setbacks in business. It's called "Mountains, Valleys, and Missiles" (MVM), and it's become my compass for navigating the entrepreneurial journey—both for myself and my clients.
Understanding the Cycles
Let me paint this picture for you: business life isn't a straight line to success—it's a landscape of varied terrain, each with its own challenges and opportunities.
Mountains are those moments we all live for—when everything clicks into place. They're the big contract you finally land, the product launch that exceeds all expectations, or that team meeting where everyone's energy aligns perfectly. I remember one of my earliest mountain moments: overcoming my debilitating fear of public speaking. After my first talk, I felt invincible, like I had finally broken free. I was on top of the mountain.
But here's the crucial insight: mountains aren't permanent residences. They're viewpoints. Places to celebrate, gain perspective, and gather strength for what comes next.
The Reality of Valleys
Valleys are where most of the real work happens. They're those long stretches where despite your best efforts, nothing seems to move forward. The times when your teams’ morale is low, your biggest client is threatening to leave, or your new strategy is meeting resistance at every turn.
In 2009, I hit a valley that felt more like a crater. My business was thriving, at an all-time high, with a great team supporting many clients. Then came a life-changing diagnosis requiring a two-year sabbatical. It meant learning a new way of living and letting go of what had been built.
But valleys aren't dead ends. They're fertile ground for growth and reinvention.
Surviving Missiles
Then there are missiles. Those unexpected catastrophes that come out of nowhere and threaten everything you've built. Think COVID-19: a missile that made us question everything we thought we knew about business stability.
Missiles can also be personal: a sudden lawsuit, the unexpected departure of a key team member, or a major client going bankrupt owing you six months of fees.
The Power of Framework
The power of the MVM framework isn't just in naming these experiences, it's in how it transforms our relationship with them. When you understand that these cycles are natural and inevitable, you stop being surprised by them. Instead of being paralyzed by a valley or devastated by a missile, you can ask yourself: "How do I want to show up for this part of the journey?"
Practical Strategies for each Phase
Mountains
Document your successes and the specific actions that led to them
Build systems to replicate what's working
Strengthen relationships while things are good
Set aside resources for future valleys and missiles
Practice gratitude while maintaining momentum
Valleys
Return to your fundamentals and core values
Seek outside perspective from mentors and peers
Use the slow time for system improvements and team development
Focus on small, consistent actions rather than quick fixes
Remember that valleys are where character and resilience are built
Missiles
Activate your support network immediately
Focus first on what you can control
Look for hidden opportunities within the crisis
Take care of your physical and mental health
Remember that some of the most successful pivots come from missile moments
Looking Ahead
As we embrace 2025, I can't tell you exactly what mountains, valleys, or missiles await. But I can tell you this: you will experience all three. The question isn't if you will, but when and how you'll respond.
I invite you to create a personal playbook for each scenario. What will you do when you reach the mountain peaks? How will you navigate the valleys with grace? What support systems can you put in place now for potential missiles.
Remember, what sets exceptional leaders apart isn't that they avoid valleys or dodge all missiles—it's that they've learned to navigate each phase with intention, wisdom, and resilience.
Here's to your mountains, valleys, and missiles in 2025—may you find growth in each of them.