As a woman, mom and full-time business owner I am no stranger to going through the ups and downs of life. Having dreams and goals also comes with setbacks and experiencing ruts.
Trying to juggle the demands of life, motherhood, and running a business is not easy. You have to learn how to roll with the punches, how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable and leaping off into the unknown having faith that you can build your wings on the way down.
Over the years I have learned my share of lessons, many of them the hard way (Southern Texas women are fiercely independent which can be a blessing and a curse). As I reflected on the lessons I’ve learned along the way, I want to share them with others, like you, who are striving to win at life and business.
1. Focus More On Commitment, Less On Motivation
Being committed will lead to the motivation to take action so the question comes down to just how committed are you to your goals? A good place to start is with the definition of committed “feeling dedication and loyalty to a cause, activity, or job; wholeheartedly”.
When we think of examples of commitment we think about relationships like being committed to our spouse, the commitment of parenthood. Those examples are an all in commitment. Showing up every day even when it’s hard and there are struggles. When we are all in dedicated like that to our goals, the motivation will surely follow.
2. Seek Personal Development More Than Results
When we are constantly seeking to soak up knowledge and better ourselves from the inside out, the results will follow. Too many times I see people jump into something and immediately focus on the result. “Why aren’t people joining my business?” “Why isn’t anyone interested in my products?” “I started eating more kale yesterday, why haven’t I lost any weight?”
When we focus on the result we fall into a trap of our expectations not being aligned with reality and beating ourselves up which will kill every ounce of motivation we have. By focusing on our personal growth and development we can let go of the result and find joy in the journey.
3. Have Fun
If you aren’t having fun then you are doing it wrong. When you love what you do it doesn’t take away the struggles you will face but you should be having fun doing what you love. If you aren’t, it may be time to re-evaluate some things.
4. Let Go Of Limiting Beliefs
Doubt is a dream killer. If you are spending more time beating yourself up and saying more negative things to yourself and about the world around you, refer to #2 above and dig deep into changing that. The thoughts we have will influence how we show up in life and our work. You can’t afford to sabotage yourself with stagnant thoughts.
5. Get Creative
There is no better way to make your life and work fun than to be creative. Creativity helps to keep the mind and fresh ideas flowing. Find what sparks your creative fire and do more of it! Don’t be afraid to break some rules and think outside the box.
6. Love Yourself
You are your biggest critic but also your biggest cheerleader. If you don’t love yourself well, how can you show up well for others? Too often we find that we are emotionally and physically depleted because we aren’t taking the time to be good to ourselves too.
7. Limit Distractions
If you are struggling to meet goals and deadlines, it’s time to assess where and how you are managing your time. Figure out what is sucking valuable time from what really needs your time and devotion and work to limit those distractions. Often times we pile too much on ourselves because we simply can’t say no or we aren’t being disciplined. Create a schedule for yourself and stick with it to create some new habits.
8. Be Intentional
Success comes from being intentional. There are very few people who can say they stumbled into success, that achieving their goals was a complete accident. When was the last time you asked someone how they achieved where they are and they said “I am not really sure, I just woke up one day with all of these achievements”. I am going to safely venture to guess that you have never had someone say that to you.
Every day we are writing our own success story and every day we have to intentionally show up if we want the story to have a happy ending. We aren’t going to accidentally fall into it. As you write your own story, trust who God created you to be. You don’t need some guru to tell you every move to make in your life or business.
9. Be Flexible
Success comes from commitment but we also need to be flexible in the process. When something isn’t working, be willing to try something new. You can’t expect to try to fit a square peg in a round hole day after day and get a different result. Being open-minded to try new things allows you to discover new processes and develop better ways to run your life and business.
10. Self Care To Avoid Burnout
Everyone needs to make time to care for thyself and that is especially true for women entrepreneurs. With so much on our plates, self-care must be a non-negotiable part of our lives or we can find ourselves burning our candles at both ends. Make self-care a priority on your schedule every week to avoid burning yourself and your passion out.
With these tips I know you will be flying high in all areas of your life. I pray they also help you grow a thriving business!