Begin......the rest is easy

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Fortune Cookie Wisdom

While cleaning my desk drawer, I came across this quote from a fortune cookie.  “Begin…..the rest is easy.”  It reminded me that sometimes the hardest thing we have to do is start.
 
I recently facilitated a series early stage training classes for women entrepreneurs who are preparing to launch their own business.  One of the topics we discussed was “failure.”  What does failure mean to you?  What does it look like?  What fears are wrapped up failure?  Our discussion led to realizing that for many, the failure is not trying.  Not beginning is the failure. 
 
We used this Sara Blakely (Founder and CEO of Spanx) video to illustrate this point.  If you haven’t heard it, take 2 minutes and watch.

What is it you are not doing? 
 
Here are some ideas about ways you can move forward:

  1. Think about the worst-case scenario. What is the worst thing that could happen if you went ahead? And, if that happened, would you be able to move past it? Really think about this. Hopefully you realize you will be able to survive.

  2. Make a step-by-step plan to get you going. Sometimes knowing the tasks we need to do helps stay on track. You can focus on those steps and not worry as much about what it means as you go down your list – that you are progressing towards doing “it!” (If this seems too daunting of a task, start with a total brain dump and then start putting your ideas into a plan.)

  3. Seek out support for yourself. This could be a family member, friend, colleague or even a coach. Other people might have been where you are right now. Their experience could be of great value to help you move forward. And even if they haven’t gone through what you’re trying to work through, they can still be there to help support you and potentially provide you with some guidance and/or fresh perspectives.

  4. Use affirmations on a daily basis. Do you already practice this? I highly recommend it. Here are a few of my favorites:

    • I am ready to take my business to the next level.

    • I am ready to take time for my business and myself.

    • I am ready to learn. I am teachable.

    • I am impacting the world. The world needs my voice.

  5. Make your intentions public. Tell people in your network about what it is you are committing to doing. If there is a social media forum that is appropriate you can also make your commitment public there. Going public can help you to take action because you never know when someone is going to ask you about your progress!

We now have 12 weeks left in 2019.  It is time to take action and start doing more to gain momentum and hit your goals.  What have you put off doing?  What if you did it? 

You can do it!