One of the toughest things about being an entrepreneur is the need to constantly operate outside your comfort zone. Between defining what makes you stand out from the crowd, identifying who your ideal clients are, and creating a message that resonates with them (oh and doing amazing creative that keeps them coming back), the learning curve of having a successful creative business or career can feel pretty steep.
It’s enough to make you want to quit before you even start, right?
But since quitting isn’t an option (if it were, you wouldn’t be reading this), here are 5 sure-fire strategies to push through those limiting beliefs and achieve more than you ever imagined.
1) Remember the 40% rule
Several years ago, I joined a mixed martial arts gym. Aside from getting into the best shape of my life (oh, what this post-partum mama wouldn’t do to possess those abs again!) and meeting my now-husband (worth the steep membership fee alone), my Sensai’s mantra really stuck with me: when you think you’re totally spent, you’re only about 40% done. Apparently the Navy Seals also subscribe to this philosophy, so it appears to come on good authority!
2) Look at how far you’ve come, not how far you have to go
As any self-help book or meditation expert will tell you, anxiety comes from living in the future. Pulling off something big, like re-positioning yourself, launching a new product or service, or speaking for the first time in front of a big audience are all big challenges that require a lot of work. It can be all too easy to look at ALLLLL the things you have to do (and probably don’t know how to do yet) and feel defeated. Instead, look at how far you’ve come and feel proud of the progress you’ve made. You’ll still be standing in the same place, but I promise you’ll feel a whole lot better, and take more inspired action from that place.
3) Identify where you need help
None of us came into the world knowing all we need to know, so why do we get so down on ourselves for not having all the skills and answers? Accept that growth requires learning and seek out the right learning opportunities for you. They might include attending events at professional associations such as Spark Design NY or the Freelancer’s Union, participating in webinars by industry experts, investing in on-line courses, or hiring a coach. Identify what you need to move forward and invest the energy, time and resources you need to achieve your goals.
4) Celebrate your wins
As entrepreneurs we tend to blow right past our successes, plunging ourselves immediately into the next challenge. Give yourself a break and celebrate your wins, no matter how small. The much-needed boost you’ll get as a result will help you embark on the next goal with enthusiasm and excitement.
5) Remember what your mum told you (or at least, what mine told me)
If none of these strategies work, feel free to invoke a saying I heard A LOT growing up: “there’s no such word as “can’t”, only “can, but haven’t tried”.
If you’re ready to bust through those limiting beliefs, but need some help and accountability doing so, let’s chat. Together we can make this the year you achieve more than you ever imagined possible!
