Do you look at other women business owners with envy? As in…”How do they get it all done? How do they make it all work?” You know the women I’m talking about. They’re the ones who always seem so organized and calm. They get reports done, articles written and published, and Quickbooks balanced on time…every month. And, they look fabulous doing it.
Yep, that woman.
Now contrast that woman with how you feel. Overwhelmed. Over-scheduled. Over-worked. Not enough resources to get everything done in your personal and business life that needs to be done. You’ve got 72 hours worth of stuff to get done in 12 hours. You need a cut and a rinse to hide the gray. And let’s not even talk about the last time you had a mani/pedi. You feel like you’re on a roller coaster: some days things are going well; other days, everything’s out of control.
It’s the ups and downs of owning a business. But others seem to have it all together while you feel lucky just to be able to remember to log in to that webinar you paid for.
But guess what? To someone else, YOU are one of those “got it all together” women! Believe it or not, there are women out there looking at you in awe and admiration of what you’ve accomplished and how you seemingly do it with such finesse. To those women, you ARE the woman you are in awe of.
So, breathe deeply. Relax. Pull yourself together. Meditate for 60 seconds on the fact that you are a fabulous woman. You are treading where few will dare to go. You are an entrepreneur and you’ve got that swag!
Now let go…of the need for perfection. Celebrate you and your accomplishments and even your failures (those are great moments of learning and growth!). Exhale.
Feel better? I hope so. Leave me a comment on how you feel about cutting yourself some slack.
Thanks for reminding me of this, Traci. I’ve decided that going into year 2 of my business, minding my own business is a full-time business. Worrying about what everyone else is doing or how they do it is a waste of time. And it must not make God too happy either, if we keep comparing what He’s given us with what He’s given them. It’s as though we’re saying, “I got a bum deal!”
To cut myself some slack, I’ve started keeping a journal (something I haven’t done since I was 10). That way, I can look back at what seemed to be a huge deal and see that it wasn’t so huge, after all.
Nichole, a journal is an excellent idea! Not only can you look back and see that those big, fat, scary things weren’t so big, fat or scary after all, but you can also see (and celebrate) all the progress you’ve made. Great way to cut yourself some slack (and be grateful for God’s blessings). Here’s to a fabulous Year #2!
I confess: I have a tendency to do this often. But yesterday, I was talking to a friend and she confessed that she thought I was one of those women who had it all together. What?! Me?! Wow, that was eye-opening. Blew my mind! Certainly put things into perspective.
Monica, that’s exactly what I’m talking about! We are very self-critical, but others see us in a totally positive, admirable light! I’m glad you’re friend shared that with you with you. Celebrate yourself!
Have you been peeking in my window? You are dead on about how I feel from day to day, not to mention the hair and nails. Fortunately, I don’t spend too much time comparing myself to other women business owners. Who has time?!?
Great advice!
Laura, I think this post was peeking in a lot of women’s window, lol! But, it’s great that you don’t fall into that trap of comparing yourself to others. That’s a slippery slope to depression! That’s for your comments.
Thank you so much. I needed to read that. I think all the time about how much time I do not have, and how many things I have my hands in….working full time, running my organization (where I offer work shops and seminars to moms and youth and professional trainings to non profit organizations), teaching at 3 different institutions, and then coming home and giving my undivided attention to a husband, a 2 year old and reaching out to my college freshmen to make sure he’s keeping his head in the books. I haven’t even mentioned that I am working on my doctorate in the midst of all this madness.
You are right…we should cut ourselves some slack!! I sometimes can’t tell if I am coming or going. Can’t remember what I ate last nite. But I still find time to touch base with folks and network…I never believe anyone that says, I was too busy to call or email you back. They don’t know busy chil’.
Thanks again!
Kumari
Oh by the way….I do keep a journal.. I have to keep myself sane somehow. I’ve kept a journal since I was about 9 years old. I am in the process of writing a book right now that’s due to be released in the Spring. Thanks again.
Wow, Kumari–you are one amazing woman! I really appreciate hearing all that you’re doing because you are proof-positive that women entrepreneurs take multi-tasking to a WHOLE NEW LEVEL! No matter how much is left undone at the end of the day, we have so much to celebrate for what we did accomplish. The “To Do” list is never going to be eliminated; in fact, the more successful we become, the longer that list gets. But, the key is to recognize that, celebrate all accomplishments, lower expectations of what we “have” to get done every day, and keep it moving forward. Sounds like you understand that well! You go girl! Thanks for your comments!
Please be sure to let me know when your book is published!! I’d love to get a copy.
Thank you for reminding me that I too am still fabulous regardless of feeling like I want to pull my hair out most days. I would just like for right now to be in business. As in that be an actual tangible thing verses still preparing. However, I am going to regroup, re-evaluate, and reinvent all the great ideas that I have and work like squirells in the winter to get it up and runing. Thanks again for having a platform of such great advice and a place for us to speak our concerns and sucesses.
Hey Dominga, for some reason, my previous comment wasn’t visible. But, Yay for you! Don’t give up. I hope that 2011 brings you more joy than pain, more abundance than lack and more peace than stress.