"Plan Your Work, Work Your Plan." This is what my uncle e-mailed me the other day. Great quote. Sound advice. Why have I not followed it (yet) as I work toward starting my own small business?
Because it's hard to focus on what it is I REALLY want to do in a specific, target-market kind of way. Instead of niching or specializing my business, I keep leaning toward what marketing guru Seth Godin continually denounces-- trying to be everything to everyone.
Why do I do this? One reason is because my interests are varied and vast. Another reason is fear. On the surface I realize I'm scared of not making enough money if I niche, but I realize through watching other (would-be) entrepreneurs that there's another reason I don't hyper-focus my business on what I love to do and am great at. I think it might be a fear of success.
I know that sounds like something a shrink would say, and if someone asked me if I was afraid of being successful I would probably say no, but as I watch friends and family stall on fabulous, viable business ideas that are right under their noses, I am beginning to think maybe fear of success, as ridiculous as it sounds, might be what they (and I) are suffering from.
Of course the definition of "success" is a whole other discussion/post in itself. And perhaps that's part of what trips one up on her path toward a fulfilling career or a fabulous business -- living up to someone else's (or an over-developed superego's) definition of success.
Here's what Marianne Williamson has to say about fear and success in her book "A Return to Love":
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.' We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?"
Got it?
Homework:
1. Define what YOU think success means in relation to your life, dreams and goals.
2. Focus your efforts on what you love to do (to the point of obsession) and what you are GREAT at. (If you don't know what you love to do or what you're great at, ask the people who know and love you best.)
3. Plan your work and work your plan.
4. Enjoy your success. You deserve it!!
2 years ago
3 comments:
We so often don't see the people we are in other's eyes. We search for answers that are already within us.
I've found that discovering those incredible people who've touched my life -- who are like-minded, inspirational, and optimistic -- and making sure I spend time with them is critical. Alone, I can talk myself out of anything.
But when everyone else "gets you" and you stop to listen, the doors of opportunity open up in front of you.
Anne
There's definitely some of that "who am I to do that?" (whatever "that" is) in my thinking. When I fight past that and do it anyways, I think what I'm up against is not so much fear of success as a fear of the unknown; of not knowing what I should do next. It's really easy to get stuck in that uncomfortable place and then drift away from the whole darned thing.
I think that's where support and mentors really make the difference to get you past the speed bumps.
In my writing, I got comfortable with rejection letters - I had a plan for dealing with them - so those didn't bother me so much. But THen I started getting contacted by interested nespaper editors, and THAT was scarier than the rejections! I didn't know how to respond, I was nervous to talk with them...but my mentor helped me through. Once I get used to this part, I'm sure the cycle will repeat once I get to the magazine submissions stage.
The main thing that gets me past each of these is my support system, which now that I think about it - is what Anne said in a much shorter, eloquent way. :)
Here here to the support system! Thanks Anne and Colleen for being part of mine ;)
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