Episode 30 - I’ve been doing this for 25+ years and I wanna’ quit
I gotta be honest with you. These last couple weeks have been TOUGH ones.
It was a couple of those weeks that we all have from time to time as entrepreneurs. Even after 25 years.
I ended up getting Covid a couple weeks ago and spending time quarantining to the bedroom for what seemed like an eternity. I had no energy to do any work and as I laid there all I could do was watch tv or think - which can be good and bad.
I wasn’t stressed about not being able to work, but the more time that I wasn’t working in my business the more my thinking started going south and I found myself thinking about getting a job.
My thought process would go something like this:
* Just think - If I got a job, I could just do the work and punch out and not have to think about anything after hours.
* I would have a guaranteed check coming in each week.
* I really don’t want to have to work for someone else.
* Maybe I could get something part time so I still could have some flexibility.
* I used to do “this kind of work” and it really wasn’t that bad. I could do it again.
* I’ll still work on my business.
Why am I telling you all of this?
Because maybe you need to hear this today. Or maybe you’ll need to hear it another day.
These are NOT uncommon thoughts no matter how long you’ve been in business.
The real question is: Do you really want to get a job? And I’ll get to that in a moment.
First, I want to say it’s NOT bad if you decide to take a job. We need to remove the stigma that says you’re a failure in your business if you take a job. You are not a failure.
This is how I look at it. You can use a credit card or take out a loan to help you build your business or you can have a job where you use the money to help you build your business. There are different seasons in our lives that require us to do things differently.
Sometimes taking a job can relieve the stress from having to make money in your business. When we’re stressed because we don’t have the money coming in we send out a negative energy that can be felt by our potential clients and you don’t want that. You could be doing it without even knowing.
I also want to say, there are many of us that have used words like “Want to leave your 9-5?” in our marketing. There isn’t anything wrong with that either because there are people out there that resonate with it and want to leave their 9-5 job.
But I want to remove the stigma that having a job is bad.
Now, getting back to my question: Do I really want to get a job?
We all know how powerful our mind can be - good or bad - so I wanted to share with you a couple of things I do when I’m feeling this way.
Step 1: Be vulnerable enough to talk about it with your mentor.
This always seems like such a double-edged sword. You don’t want to talk about it because you don’t want to manifest it, but you do need to talk about it so you can move past it.
Back in the earlier days of building my business, I was taught to not share the “negative” thoughts and feelings with others. If I was asked how business was going, I was supposed to say, “Great!” Again, I understand that you don’t want to manifest more bad stuff or bring others down. BUT …
When you’re sharing your thoughts with a mentor or someone who really has your back, they can help you process your thoughts as well. They have your back and will support you.
It’s not their job to talk you out of things or into things. It’s their job to listen and guide you to make your own decisions.
Step 2: Journal
I sit down with a pen and paper and write down all of the things I’m thinking and feeling. It’s best to do this with pen and paper and not just in a google doc. It helps to really dig down emotionally.
I start out answering these questions, in detail …
What are all the limiting beliefs blocking me from believing I can have everything I desire?
What’s the one thing I’m putting off that I know will take me to the next level?
Where are you holding yourself back from going “all in?”
Where can you ask yourself, “How would 7 figure me handle this situation?”
What is the reality I’m choosing ‘into’ instead?
Then, …
Write the 10 things you’re proud of yourself for or that you accomplished this month.
Write 10 things you’re leaving behind
Write the 10 things you’re calling in during the new month
You’ll be amazed at how eye opening this exercise is. The key is to be totally open and honest when answering the questions.
Journaling on a daily basis is very helpful as well. Going back and reading past journal entries can help you move past your challenges today.
Step 3: Continue to invest in my mindset.
I know that my success is in direct proportion to the amount of time I invest in my mindset. Read books, listen to podcasts, take online or in-person courses. It comes from making time for it and prioritizing it in your life. I can’t encourage you enough to invest in mastering your own mindset.
The power of positive thinking, not fearing failure, not caring about what others think of you, willingness to take risks, being bold, managing the negative self-talk, and learning how to give yourself the world’s best pep-talks takes work.
It’s never too late to start.
And as Sara Blakely says, if you invest enough in yourself you won’t even need others to invest in you.
