I’m Giving Up
Your business should support the life you want, not strain it, right?
And you shouldn’t have to give up what matters most to you in life to have a successful business, right?
But recently I realized that I actually did give up a lot to get where I am today, but not necessarily in the way you might think.
For you to be as successful as you want to be, there may need to be some things you’ll need to give up too.
Let me share some of those things I needed to give up …
Giving Up the Option to Work For Someone Else
One thing was crystal clear: I did not want to go back and work for someone else.
But there’s a difference between not wanting to go back and work for someone else and not giving myself the option.
For me, in order to make sure my business worked and I didn’t have to get a job, I had to put my butt on the line and take the option of going back to work for someone else off the table.
It’s about getting your mindset right.
It’s about ensuring your success.
Give up the option to work for someone else (or whatever that equivalent would be for you). Even when times get tough, even when success feels impossible, even when you have a bad day, week, or month… remain committed that you will make your business work and you won’t go back to a job you hate.
Giving Up Distractions
Running an online business as a solopreneur requires not only a ton of work but also a ton of discipline and focus. To be successful, you can’t give into the “squirrel” moments, chase shiny objects, or be knocked off track by the enticement of Facebook & Instagram. Remember why I left social media?
To get it all done without working late nights and long weekends, you’ve got to give up letting distractions pull you from your focused action plan.
Giving Up Crappy Thinking - Stinkin’ Thinkin’
Oh man this is a biggy - a single bad moment can get the better of you, and when you’re a small business owner, a bad moment can arrive in the blink of an eye. Whether someone leaves a negative comment on your Facebook page or you see a competitor celebrate a huge win, opportunities to get down on yourself are always there.
But you can’t let that kind of crappy thinking bring you down.
To be successful, you’ve got to fearlessly push past your own limitations, manage your mindset, and simply quit the game of crappy thinking.
Giving Up My Comfort Zone
Doing new things is uncomfortable! Whether you’re learning how to write better copy, testing out new sales skills, or pitching yourself for interviews, pushing beyond your status quo can feel scary as hell.
But once you master a skill set, it gets comfortable. What used to make you want to throw up, now feels like second nature.
The problem is that if you stick to what’s comfortable, you’ll stay right where you are. As you’ve heard many times …
What got you here, won’t get you there.
To get to the next level of success, you have to give up being comfortable and get used to being uncomfortable.
Comfort Zone Poem
I used to have a comfort zone where I knew I couldn't fail.
The same four walls and busy work were really more like jail.
I longed so much to do the things I'd never done before.
But I stayed inside my comfort zone and paced the same old floor.
I said it didn't matter that I wasn't doing much;
I said I didn't care for cash, or freedom, and such.
I claimed to be so busy with the things inside the zone,
But deep inside I longed for some small victory of my own.
I couldn't let my life go by just watching others win,
So I stepped outside my comfort zone to let the change begin.
I took a step and with new strength I'd never felt before,
I kissed my comfort zone goodbye, closed and locked the door.
If you are in your comfort zone, afraid to venture out,
Remember that all others were at one time filled with doubt.
A step or two and words of praise can make your dreams come true,
So greet your future with a smile- success is there for you!
Giving Up Having Someone Else Make Decisions
We are constantly making decisions as business owners. Some days, we wish we could outsource it. But since we’re our own boss, that’s just not going to happen.
You’re the boss and in charge of everything, so to be successful, you’ve got to make the decisions (or they won’t get made!).
Giving Up Wasting Time
We all love a good lazy day of Netflix and not getting much done, but as the sole person responsible for making sure your business moves forward and makes money, wasting time doesn’t move you forward!
I’m all for taking days off and resting when you need it, but when it’s time to work, it’s time to work. Your success depends on you giving up spinning your wheels and wasting time (if you want to get crap done).
Giving Up Paying Attention to Everyone Else
It’s so easy to think we have to diligently follow industry gurus and constantly scope out our competition to determine our next moves and ensure our success.
But paying attention to everyone else is actually stunting your growth, because it slows you down, distracts you from your own next steps, and adds to your crappy thinking.
It zaps our time, brainspace, and creativity.
Stop paying attention to everyone else. Stop It! The most successful business owners only think about their businesses, not anyone else’s!
Giving Up Saying Yes
As you build your successful business, your time and energy become more constrained. You’ve got less to give to everyone who wants it, and NO must become your new favorite word.
It might not be easy to do, but you’ve got to stop saying yes to everyone if you want to say yes to your own success!
Giving Up a Predictable Income
The hardest thing to give up in becoming self-employed was the predictable income from my W2 job. Knowing, month after month, exactly what my paycheck would be was a comfort, and leaving the predictability was scary.
The good news is that it doesn't require you to give up predictable income forever, just to get started.
What Are You Giving Up?
