Who is your cheerleader?

After running my own business for the last 2 and a half years, I have found that the power to believe in myself, the hardest part, but key to moving forward.

Do you like wearing hats ?

We are accountability partners to ourselves, cheerleaders, makers of all decisions going and I even tell myself off when I reflect on past decisions! Which hat is your favourite? I personally like the one that enhances our ability to compare ourselves to others, just to reinforce that ‘you’re not doing very well thing’. Or so we make ourselves believe.

It can be very easy to run yourself into the ground, answer emails in the evening as most of us have them come through to our phones, even in the middle of the night you wake up for the toilet and you find yourself checking notifications! Why are we doing this to ourselves??

I’m sorry, where?

Do you remember the day that you had that life changing moment of ‘oh definitely, I am starting my own business’. Do you recall where you were? I remember mine vividly. The labour ward of my local hospital, yes that’s right, I decided to start my own business right after I had a child. My third one at that. My mind must have been completely clear ! And on reflection, I haven’t told myself off about that one, as sitting here now writing this, I don’t feel I could ever be employed again.

Shoulders back, chin up.

Think of all the amazing things you have done since starting your own business, and that could be the very small things that you know you have achieved. If you haven’t quite made the leap from ‘the 9-5’ or ‘its all still in your head’, it’s baby steps. Do just one thing today that will move you towards where you want to go, have a chat with someone who has done it ? Write a list of things you’d like to research? Join a networking group and just get out to meet new people, it doesn’t have to be crystal clear when you start. Just start.

It all starts with you.

It is crucial to keep yourself in mind. Sounds very odd doesn’t it as its your business but that’s exactly it, your business. You are the engine so look after it! You may have children, animals, (including partners! hehe!) but the better decisions are made when you are in a place of calm and togetherness (and yes it’s a word as I’ve just typed it). Your idea / business will grow at your own pace, for me, its growing organically as I do have a herd of other living things under the same roof, but that’s right for me. There will always be others around you that you think overtake you but you’re not them. Be happy for them and pull your chin back up and keep the focus on you.

I wanted to share this, as not only from personal experience, but for other (mainly women) around me, trying to compete or rush things in their own life so they can be ‘seen’ as progressing faster. Who cares! It all starts with you.

Today I am your cheerleader. You’re getting there so be kind to yourself.