“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ~ Maya Angelou
The entrepreneurial journey for women is a deeply personal one. We are faced with our deepest demons and our brightest light as we share our gifts with the world. That in itself is scary and then we have the practical aspect of business-building: juggling many balls in the air, from research, content development, marketing, copy-writing, networking and admin activities, you name it.
This can create overwhelm, exhaustion and lack of true direction. This can push us to question our abilities, lose confidence or give up entirely.
Here are six mantras to retain your passion and vitality as you build your conscious business.
1. Get crystal clear about your priorities.
I invite clients to work on an exercise called ‘Your True North’. They look at their life from an aerial perspective and then break this down into smaller goals. Some questions that help them determine their True North are: what needs to be accomplished and experienced before they die? How do they want to feel as they work towards these goals? What legacy do they want to leave behind in their personal and professional lives? This exercise gives them crystal clarity about what’s important and what’s not. From this clarity about priorities, we can move onto the next step…
2. Master the art of saying no.
When we know exactly what’s important in the larger scheme of things, we can very easily say no to events, people and opportunities that don’t align with our True North and life goals. I highly recommend learning the art of saying no. Let no be a complete sentence. Say it without apologies, explanations or justifications. Sometimes we get caught up with trying to defend or over-explain our feelings and decisions. It’s ok to be gentle yet firm and direct. Remember these words:
“Saying no to what deeply doesn’t matter means you say yes to what does.” ~ Gemma Stone
3. Start the day with generosity
I ask clients to start their workday with giving. Share a tip on Facebook, connect a friend to a prospective employer or business partner, write and send that thank you card. Start with sharing and giving your energy and time generously before you do anything else. Firstly this moves you into your heart center, always a good place to operate from. Secondly it will establish a positive reputation in the community and industry that will serve you for years to come. Thirdly it keeps the flow of energy moving as we give and receive easily and generously. Win-win-win.
4. Remember it takes a village
You’re going to need support both personally and professionally. Schedule time to spend time with friends and family often. Professionally, create a support system too. Find like-minded passionate professionals whose work complements yours and forge JV partnerships, start or join a mastermind where you have accountability and access to expertise and support. Trying to figure it all out on your own can suck the joy out of creating a thriving practice. To those who feel inclined, invite Spirit, angels and guides to support you and show you the way.
5. Make mornings sacred
Creating morning me-time rituals can help significantly in setting clear intentions and moving our energy forward with clarity and focus. This time allows us to connect with our inner self and set goals and intentions for the day. These rituals don’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Writing in your journal, a 10-minute meditation, a short walk, reading some affirmations, a quick dance, a cup of tea or coffee enjoyed leisurely are some examples. Tune in to see what practice you need to center yourself and prepare emotionally, mentally and energetically for the day to come. This will help with prioritizing and setting boundaries.
6. Your vibe will attract your tribe
As an entrepreneur you’re probably overwhelmed by the marketing and promotional efforts you need to make to be seen. I encourage you to turn this effort inward first and own your authentic, unique voice. From there, you’ll draw your very unique crowd to you more easily. If you’re a little quirky and you like to make people laugh do it, draw from your background, hobbies and interests to create a brand that represents your unique, authentic self. When you attract a community that resonate with you, not only will you have raving fans, you’ll also enjoy serving them immensely. Win-win. This also releases us from any feelings of comparison and jealousy that can detract us from doing our best work.
And finally always be kind, gentle and compassionate with yourself. There will be many ups and downs, highs and lows and wins and failures. Remember your ‘why’ and keep going. You’re loved and supported as you follow your dharma.
