Over the last 7 years I have been self employed and whilst I’m not fully self employed (it’s a goal I’m working on), there are some key lessons I’ve learned along the way!
Find Your Tribe
Along the way there a lots of people who have given me help and guidance and some of those people are people who I would always turn to with hesitation and others aren’t. I now have people that I can 100% say are in my tribe!
Learn from mistakes
It’s only a mistake after it’s happened. There are decisions I have made in the last 7 years that I’m not happy with, however, I have taken many lessons from them, some of which are in this blog! Any decision, mistake or challenge, own it and be responsible for it.
Excuses serve no-one
You can always find a reason not to do something or why something won’t happen for you. Instead find all the reasons to do something. For me my biggest excuse has always been I’m not old enough and not enough experience. Which is totally not true, I’m 29(almost 30) and run my business plus a Full Time job and in that time I have learnt so much that I can share with others regardless of what stage in business they are or whether they just want to live a happier life! How many can say they started a business at 22 and are still doing it?!
Focus
This has been a big one for me over the years. Going back to decisions there are many things which thanks to Brad Burton, my previous mentor, I now call a squirrel! The thing that takes you away from what you are doing! Squirrels come in many forms — time, money and courses so be careful as they're sneaky!
Consistency
Do what you say you will! Over the years my consistency has been something I’ve not been very good at. If you plan to do a weekly live, then add it to your diary and then the same time every week show up! No excuses, unless your ill of course!
Planning
Time blocking will be your number 1 friend if you want any sort of work life balance! I colour code and block in everything from writing content, to meetings to down time! Plan your down time! If it’s not planned or in the diary it won’t happen! Planning down time is still something of a work in progress for me.
Mindset
It will seem very woowoo in the beginning and like a throw away term, however, it is soo important. Find something that works for you whether it’s journaling, daily graitudes, positivity jar, meditation, reading or a combination. Our minds are a powerful tool if we take care of them!
Time/Patience
Everything happens for a reason and when it is supposed to! My last 7 years were supposed to be challenging as they were preparing me for the next 7 years to fly! As the Ronan Keating song goes “Life is a Rollercoaster, you just gotta ride it”
Clarity
Now you might be thinking this is the same as focus, however, what I mean by clarity, is being clear on what you want from life. What is your vision, your goals and what are the steps to achieve that. If this isn’t clear then it’s hard to focus and you will be finding squirrels everywhere!
Smile
Sounds like the easiest one of the lot, trust me when life is being thrown upside down the hardest thing to do is smile. I tell you what though it’s the one that will make you feel better and make all the others easier to do!
As the picture says “You didn’t come this far to only come this far”
Keep Going, one day it’ll be reality!
