I am in Colorado this week, enjoying some welcome down time with my mom, stepdad and two teens. I love that I can work from anywhere and that I have created a location independent business. We love to travel and we have grandparents in great places, like Estes Park, Colorado. Taking time off as an entrepreneur is essential to my health and well-being and yet making it happen is challenging. I knew I wanted to get the kids and me here this summer so I committed to working some and playing lots. It’s the perfect blend for me and kids and grandparents are super happy too.
Yesterday I hiked to Ouzel Falls, one of my favorite spots in Rocky Mountain National Park, with my stepdad and kids. It was a gorgeous day.
I felt very out of shape but also very determined to make the 5.4 mile hike. I realized as I was slowly working my way up the stone stairs on the path that business feels this way at times. Some days every step feels like pulling myself up the steep hill, other days I am sitting at the foot of the waterfall enjoying what I have created and still other days feel like a fast, playful run downhill. And every day is great, even the hard days.
My commitment to growing my business is greater than my fear. Is yours? The way to get over this fear is the same way that I got up and down a mountain yesterday, one step at a time.
Growing a profitable business takes time and it takes a plan.
The #1 reason why I see creative women entrepreneurs struggling is that they don’t have a plan. They aren’t sure what to do each day to grow their business.
The #2 reason women fail to build a profitable business is that they are afraid of the “money” aspect of their business, which includes everything from sales and marketing to bookkeeping.
Today I want to share with you a simple practice that will help you take simple steps each day to support you in building your profitable business. The truth is that getting on the path to profit requires two kinds of activities. First, it requires the inner game activities. Second, your inner game or mindset work must be combined with taking action in the real world.
Set 5 Daily Intentions
Each morning before you start your day (or the evening before if you prefer) write down 5 intentions or actions that you will take that day. Commit to doing all 5 of these actions before you go to bed.
Here are some examples:
I get one new client today.
I make 5 follow up phone calls today.
I write one blog post today.
I exercise for 30 minutes today.
I spend time with my kids today.
Notice that these are a combination of your quality of life as well as money-making activities for your business. Setting intentions and then taking action is the secret to slow and steady progress in your business. Give it a try. You don’t have anything to lose and you have everything to gain!
When you set specific intentions, you are more likely to take them. Some of them will be scary, no doubt. I invite you to face your fear and take action anyway. I know many of women business owners who dislike picking up the phone to make follow up calls (me included) but this one single action can mean the difference between a struggling business and a thriving one.
I invite you to take the challenge and try this for one week! See what shifts for you.
Using this simple practice has helped me to build a 6-figure business that I love and still have time to take my family to Colorado for summer vacation. What could it change for you?
