The difference when you choose, specifically, to create a freedom based business is that your aim is to create a life, not just an income.
How you feel on an every day basis becomes the barometer of how you’re doing. Of how successful you are.
Committing to enjoying the journey takes letting go of what doesn’t serve you on an inner level leading to tremendous personal growth so that you are able to pursue, achieve and feel fulfilled in your life and business goals.
Here are 10 habits you need to give up to be a happy business owner
1. Fearfulness: this doesn’t mean having no fear. It means choosing courage despite the fear and making decisions from that place. If you’re unsure whether your fear is sending you a message that you’re on the wrong path or if it’s ‘just’ fear of the unknown, watch this.
2. Procrastination: unless you take action you won’t move towards your dreams. This can only lead to one thing: dissatisfaction. You need to stop the excuses including any labels you use to explain your behavior – introvert, sensitive, perfectionist, shy etc. If you want it to happen, you need to make it happen. How can you take that step you’ve been putting off in a way that feels safe to you?
3. Comparison: there’s nothing new here. You compared yourself to others at school and doubted your confidence and self esteem back then. What’s useful here is to delve into this to find out what lies at the heart of it so that it doesn’t hold you back or confuse you. Are you really not good enough or is the person you’re comparing yourself to doing something you would love to do and know you can? If it’s the later, comparison is actually a positive sign that creating what you want is possible. Watch this video to find out exactly how to use comparison to your advantage.
4. Expectations: You take action, you want specific results. Of course you do and it’s disheartening when things don’t turn out that way. The last thing you want is to plough through uncertainty, put your soul and energy into creating something that no one wants to buy. It’s a learning curve to get to a place where you allow yourself to be open to alternative results without attaching them to ‘good’ or ‘bad’ outcomes, but rather seeing them as learning experiences and quite possibly, blessings in disguise.
5. Victim mentality: reframing your stories about your past, about who you are and the experiences that helped form who you are today is what allows you to take responsibility for creating the life you want to live today and how you want to do this. Not only does this put you in charge of your present, future and past memories, but it also gives you greater confidence, it empowers you to know that you can choose. It’s your journey, you get to choose your path at every decision.
6. Concept of time: Don’t have enough time to finish your work each day? Find it hard to close your laptop? Racing a race that’s only against yourself, to get somewhere someone else says is a good place to be? You’re not the only one. To be happy, you need to take control of time and make it work for you. Time is time. You choose how you spend it, think about it and feel about it. It’s time to have a long hard look at your schedule, what needs to go, what needs to be brought in, what you want more of.
7. Cultural norms: like many, you were probably brought up thinking you needed to follow a specific academic, professional and life path (husband, 2.5 kids, big house, nice holidays, nice car, or two). There were certain parameters for getting there – a certain type of education, a predictable work path. It’s time to drop those. You’re creating new paradigms of making a living – and a life – that don’t need or even have a blueprint. You’re the ultimate creator of your life, including your business, from hereonin.
8. Doubt: Are you one of the only people you know building a freedom based online business? Understandably this can lead to doubt – can you do it? Is it possible? Is it sensible? Who are you kidding? It only works for ‘other’ people…Let go of what you thought was possible so that you can create what you envision to be possible. If you can think it, it means it’s possible. What step do you need to make it happen?
9. Old school hard work: this new way to work that’s been opened up to us thanks to the internet commands a whole new work ethic. Competition, linear progression and structures devoid of personal message are a thing of the past. The online coaching and consulting world is one of connection, communication between one human being and another. You are now part of your work. No longer do you need to separate work and life holding parts of yourself back. This new way of working is thrilling, you’re passionate about helping others, you call the shots, enjoy it.
10. Flakiness: lack of clarity isn’t an option. It takes a plan, commitment, determination and consistency to create the results you want. Don’t be fooled into thinking that being a solo business owner is a walk in the park. It’s not. It’s the space where softness meets strength to get results in a more feminine, soul-led fashion where authentic and open expression is the dish of the day.
What would you add to this – what have you had to give up to build your online business?
