Declutter Your Mind

Good morning! I was going through old papers at my desk trying to declutter and came across something I wrote a while back (I wish I put a date on it) that I think is relevant for anyone starting their own business:

"There's a misconception around why I do the work I do. From the outside, it looks as though I'm doing this for ego. To some extent, that's true, it's the reason everyone does anything. The issue is when ego is the only thing that fuels you, where ego drives your every move. That's the difference for me. I don't do this for my own ego. I do this work to prove that I have value in this world. I do this work to show that, despite others not believing in me, HERE I AM.

I am here and I intend to leave my mark.

It took too long for me to reach this point, experiencing numerous low points in my personal and professional life. There are moments I wish I could repeat - try again with a better perspective - but I know it's too late. I also know that dwelling on the past holds you there forever. The past is the past. There is no changing it. You are ignoring new opportunities, new experiences, because of your own inability to move on and see what is often times right in front of you. 

I know what you're thinking. I'm sure you have an excuse for every thing. But look around you. There's a "first" something every other month. The first image of a black hole, the first drone-delivered transplant organ, the first all-female spacewalk. At what point did any of the individuals or teams dwell on their past and let it define them? Instead, they ignored social "norms", ignored trends, and made it work.

You can do it too, it requires patience and careful planning. Many people questioned my work and still do. About a year and a half later, I can comfortably say that the planning and effort put in over that time is coming to fruition but again, it requires patience and trust in your own ability. I know it's a bit cliche, but at the end of the day, if you're starting your own business or planning to, the hardest part is doing it. You're the only one stopping yourself."

Not sure if this was me rambling during a moment of frustration or if I was planning to write an article on here - either way, it is incredibly relevant for my past few months and the rest of 2020.

Thanks for taking the time to read this! If any part of this (even the smallest amount) resonates with you, let me know!