It’s time external sources of validation are redirected.
This is the scene every time I come home. These two think I am the greatest thing since kibble. Growing up with two dogs, I swore I would never succumb to the temptation of adopting my own. The commitment seemed enormous, and I wanted the freedom to move about and live life on my own terms. Besides, having two children required enough perseverance. Why ask for more work?
So, you can see how well that worked out. As with all worthwhile things in life, my journey in pet ownership has been at once wonderful and exasperating. I have pushed hard through difficult days, which led to fulfilling ones, made all the more glorious by the sheer effort it took to get there.
This perseverance is a key component of mutually rewarding interactions. Intriguingly however, it conflates with our own self-regard. As humans we reflexively see our own value through the eyes of others, whether it be a personal, business, or yes, canine relationship.
So, who is your biggest cheerleader?
It may seem counterintuitive to pat yourself on the back – seeming aspirations of the selfish and egocentric. However, as time goes on and life experience builds, it becomes not just important – but essential for personal and professional survival – to seek a higher self regard.
The truth is, just about anything worthwhile in life is hard.
The best parts of life are both grueling and awe-inspiring: Marriage and partnerships, children, pets, work. When I started my small business, I was driven entirely by intuition and a desire to be useful and relevant in the space. Meeting other entrepreneurs, I have been inspired by their own stories and driven to understand what makes us each get up in the morning and do it all over again, even when we fail.
Steve Jobs had it exactly right. Success is defined by the innate desire to push through every signal that tells you this is too hard, you are too weak, or the mission is not worthwhile.
Centering your intuition and following cues is the right plan to hone your skills – and make small shifts accordingly. Stay focused on the goal, yet be open to new avenues that will fine tune your business plan and mission. This further develops the talents and passions that are your wheelhouse and core competency.
Here are four ways perseverance can manifest in a small business context:
- Fine tune your mission: Hone natural skills and talents that are meaningful and serve your business purpose.
- Take notes: Write down anything and everything that comes to mind towards meeting these goals.
- Create personal strategy sessions: Alone or with an Ambassador: Use these notes to fine tune your messaging, purpose, and objectives
- Stay within your budget and spend wisely. A little can go a long way. Be smart and lean.
What would you say if someone asked for your advice on perseverance and success?
Cultivate your inner advocate. Remember that advice? Now give it to yourself:
- What would you do if you did not need money? This is your wheelhouse, your talent. Own it.
- What is your goal? Get laser focused on it.
- Cut yourself some slack. What have you accomplished? Give yourself credit.
- Open up doors for yourself. If a door doesn’t open, find a window. Go out on a limb. That is where the fruit is.
Last, If you don’t persevere, how will you know what happens?
Push. Become comfortable with being uncomfortable. In life, often the beauty is in the struggle. Let’s wrap it up in a neat little box for a moment: If your plan, talents and mission are aligned, just keep going forward. Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.
Don’t underestimate the value of camaraderie intrinsic to meeting others at your stage of life and/or work. Join a group, get to know another entrepreneurs and share stories. Trust me, you will find them inspiring, motivating, and strategically illuminating.
Final thoughts and forward thinking:
Therapy is a good analogy: From time to time we all need an objective sounding board to help us frame our plans, goals and strategies. Need a cheerleader who also functions as a strategist? Bergen Concierge Service fills the role as an ambassador to your success. Helping get tools in place for achieving objectives while maintaining focus on your core competency without distractions.
The question then becomes, what small business would not benefit from this kind of support?
Laura Milo DeAngelis | Owner and Founder | Bergen Concierge Service LLC
www.bergen-concierge.com • 201-303-7301 • bergenconcierge@gmail.com
