2023 Reflections

One year ago today (January 4th), I was #laidoff from my corporate role at Salesforce . When I read the automated email standing in line at the DMV(finally changing my last name!), I felt an intense overflow of relief sweep over me.

Just the night before I laid in my bed and thought to myself, "How on earth am I going to make it through another year..." I was tired, burnt out and discouraged about work and now, I had the chance to start fresh...

I decided to officially join my husband, Gabe on the entrepreneurial journey full-time with Steadyworth . Prior to this I was a nights and weekend warrior and as I reflect on the year, it did not go at all how I thought it would BUT I have learned a lot and wanted to share.

You could solve all your problems and still not have the life you want.

This is one of my favorite quotes from a book I read by Robert Fritz Inc called The Path of Least Resistance which talks about becoming a creative force in your own life. I have always identified as a "problem solver" and it has always felt a bit like wack-a-mole. Smash one and another pops up.

As a business owner, you must wear multiple hats, if you are lucky (like me!) you have a partner with different skills but for the most part you are doing it all. Being a problem solver doesn't actually help all that much because there are more problems than hands to solve. You have to shift your mindset from problem solving to creation or you will drown. Doing this requires that you work WITH the imperfections and use the problems as fuel to experiment with what works and what doesn't.

When you are in a creation mindset mistakes are the most beautiful and interesting part. They reflect a willingness to try and learn versus a point of your failure. Creating is more important than solving problems.

Success is not straightforward and always comes with immense pushback.

Just like change, success is not a straight path from A to Z. The smartest people in the world are irrelevant if they do not work hard and have a resilience inside of them pushing them through the mud. There is no safety net as a business owner. There is no blaming on this leader or that team member. You have total control and you have total ownership which means success is on you and failure is on you.

When you are in pursuit of a dream or trying to turn an idea into reality, all hell will break loose against you to test you and make sure you mean what you say. Being a business owner is not for the faint of heart. You have to battle, get your hands dirty, work tired, and figure out how to keep going even when things don't work out the way you thought they would.

Being clear on the vision, having an undying commitment to success and having someone to pick you up and carry you when you need it is important. If it weren't for Gabe, I would have quit countless times already.

Unbelief plagues more people then circumstances

Your actions, reactions, and emotions are all signs of what you believe about yourself, others and the world you interact in. At the end of the day, the struggle you are going through has very little to do with what others do to you, what your circumstances are, etc. and has EVERYTHING to do with what you believe and how you choose to respond.

In the last year, I have never been more aware of what I ACTUALLY believe. On the lonely and isolated days, I couldn't escape or make excuses for it... I had to confront it. If I wanted to be successful, I had to identify and let go of the beliefs that may have served me in one season but no longer serve me in this one.

Take time to reflect on your actions, reactions and emotions and identify your beliefs. It will serve you far greater than focusing on the person who you think is blocking you from success or the circumstance standing in your way.

Closing Thoughts

I love to journal. I have spent the last ten years of my life and career getting up every morning to read my bible, pray and journal. It has been a discipline that has shaped me more than any degree, mentor, training, experience or masterclass. More often than not, I have found myself in certain seasons re-reading old journals encouraged to see and feel how far I have come.

So in the same way, today, more than anything, this article is written to be a stamp in time and remind my future self how much I have grown in this season. To encourage future me that this season wasn't all a waste because it didn't go the way I expected. That God is still writing my story and there is something really special to be found in the journey, not just the destination.

Thank you to anyone else who reads this too. Appreciate you walking with me on this journey of life.

#success #businessowner #lessonslearned #laidoff #reflections