There comes a point in one's life where you need to re-evaluate the things that you have been holding onto. This can be anything from toxic relationships, unfulfilling jobs, or even bad habits. Walking away from things that no longer serve you can be a difficult decision to make, but it is an important step towards personal growth and happiness. One of the main reasons people struggle to let go of things that no longer serve them is because of fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of change, fear of being alone, fear of failure. However, holding onto something just because it's familiar or comfortable can prevent you from pursuing new opportunities that may bring you even greater fulfilment. When you walk away from things that no longer serve you, you create space in your life for new experiences and relationships.
By letting go of negative or stagnant energy, you open yourself up to positive and uplifting experiences. This can lead to increased happiness, motivation, and overall well-being. It's important to remember that walking away doesn't always mean giving up. Sometimes it means taking a break, reassessing the situation, and coming back with a fresh perspective. Other times, it means completely letting go and moving on. Trusting your intuition and listening to your inner voice can help guide you towards the right decision. It takes courage to let go of what's comfortable and familiar. Here are the things I have learned from my most daring leap into the unknown: entrepreneurship.
Decide before day one what you are going to serve, i.e., are you serving your ego or your soul? Whatever you decide, it makes decision-making very easy moving forward. Also decide on your dos and don'ts, or likes and dislikes, when building your business. Many experienced entrepreneurs have told me that I can't "afford" to say no to business, which brings me to number 2
I did not start a business to suffer under it for the rest of my life. I chose to serve my soul, so I have to enjoy what I do every day (especially in my own place of work). I choose my clients and projects based on the following:
Am I passionate about this brand or company?
Will this have a positive impact on Jamaica or the world?
Are these nice people?
Will this give me energy or deplete it?
I’m grateful to have learned many lessons early on this journey, so my criteria keeps me accountable for how I want my life to feel.
3. Stay lean. Every so often I hear, "Why don't you open an office space? When will you be hiring more staff? Ahh, not for now. When I worked in corporate, I had the capacity for four people. I plan to leverage that superpower for my own company. I’ll be making no major operational decisions until I have made it to my first anniversary. I have also built a strong network of creative and business collaborators, so when I need a resource for a project, I have plenty of talent to pull from. In a small business, collaboration is key, plus I enjoy working with like-minded people.
4. Self-respect: Every once in a while, someone crosses a line and yes managing difficult people is inevitable in any capacity. This is where I’m grateful for my corporate experience, where balancing grace with boundaries is an art form but a necessary one to maintain your sanity and revenue.
With everything that comes with being a new business owner—the good, the bad, and the indifferent—it has still been the most rewarding experience of my professional life. I get up every day out of my comfort zone, just hoping to make it to the next day. Note: This counters my usual pedantic Capricorn need for structure. Change is usually very hard for me, but in these last few years I have come to realize that change is inevitable and that it hurts less if you just go with it than against it.
Comments