Sixteen years ago, before I officially started my own company, I was a freelance video editor and aspiring photographer. I didn’t know what it took to run my own creative business or even how to make it successful. My definition of success was limited to the number of jobs I could book and the amount of profit I could keep. I was never really interested in fame (though a little recognition would be awesome!).
Looking back at all those years of hard work (some days I call it slogging, striving, and crying), I am convinced now that the definition of success includes who I would become through this process of entrepreneurship and the difference I would make in this world. Running a business will take a toll on you, but it can make you stronger and a better person.
We often look at successful people in life, and wonder, “How did they get there?” We sometimes hope and wish for “big breaks” in life, or that one defining job or encounter that would propel us into this state of success. But more often than not, success is not tied to one major event. It’s tied to a lot of small, good habits and little improvements along the way.
In other words, if you want to be a successful entrepreneur, expand your vision to include your personal growth. Sometimes, we are the ones standing in the way of our own success.
It boils down to the daily choices you make. Becoming the best version of yourself requires constant editing of the choices that we make.
For example, if you want to publish your own book, you have to make a choice to pen down your thoughts daily, even if you only invest 10 minutes a day in it. If you decide that listening to podcasts will help you with this process, you must also decide how much time you will devote to developing this new habit. But ultimately, you need to edit your mindset into changing your identity, from a non-writer to a writer.
James Clear, in his book Atomic Habits, says, “Your habits shape your identity, and your identity shape your habits. Ultimately, your habits matter because they help you become the type of person you wish to be. They are the channel through which you develop your deepest beliefs about yourself. The most effective way to change your habits is to focus not on what you want to achieve, but on who you wish to become.”
So if you have questions like, “Why do I say something is important but I never make time for it?” or “How do I get out of this rut; feeling stressed about work, and then shutting down mentally by wasting hours on social media?”, it’s likely that there are some habits you need to flush from your life.
Here are some questions for you to reflect on:
- Does this habit of mine reflect the person I intend to be?
- What is going on in my life right now that is standing in the way of my success?
- What is within my control to change?
- Who do I need to be in order to grow into the successful person I envision?
Everything starts with awareness, and I hope that you too will find the success that you desire in your business.
If you are interested in 1-1 coaching, contact me for a discovery session.
