I help entrepreneurs leapfrog over the typical potholes that derail most small businesses with inspiration, motivation, education, and support across a wide range of business topics drawn from over a decade of running my own business, teaching entrepreneurship for the City of New York, and coaching and consulting privately with dozens of women and minority small business owners. Honestly, why go it alone when help is an email away?
Old Dogs, New Tricks
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I spent much of last week chauffeuring my mom around to a host of medical appointments. Most are diagnostic in nature, but one is actually exciting. And, I'm heartened that my mom is excited about it, too. After several years of kidding and then not kidding that I think my mom needs hearing aids, earlier this year she finally agreed. We visit with a local doctor of audiology a few weeks later and sure enough Mom needs not one, but two hearing aids. Now, we are back in the same office. The doctor walks us through how to put the hearing aids in each ear, how to remove and gently clean them, how to charge them, and how to address other use and maintenance needs. I can see all mom's excitement drain out of her. Now, she's certain it's all too much for her. She is destined to fail.
"I don't know about this," she says when we're back in the car. "What don't you know?" "I don't know if I can do it. Maybe I'm past the point of learning new things." On the one hand, this breaks my heart. On the other hand, this feels so familiar. I say this very same thing to myself when I am struggling to understand a new tool, process, or am frustrated by changes beyond my control. I hear similar words from clients and students when they feel stuck, overwhelmed, or defeated by something that didn't work out as hoped.
"Everyone feels this way," I say to mom. "It's not about being old, but about being old enough to understand that failure is possible. But failure is how we learn.
So, will you struggle? Probably. Does struggling mean you can't do it? Absolutely not.
That struggle will help you learn how to do it. You just have to be willing to stick with it until you figure it out and then you'll be doing it without even having to think how to do it."
This isn't just true for mom but for all of us entrepreneurs. There are a thousand paths to success but it's nearly impossible to get there without a mindset shift in some way and, more likely, in several ways. One of the first and most basic is recognizing that failure is a necessary component of mastery. If you've got some things you'd like to talk over to create a shift in your mindset and/or business, book a Business Therapy session with me today. And, here's the good news: In less than a week mom is dealing with her hearing aids as though she's had them for years, proving you're never too old to learn something new. Until next time, PS - If you missed it, last week I said Put 'Er There, Pardner! Your success is our strategy!No longer want to receive my newsletter but don't want to miss my special offers and announcements? Click here. |
Easily Said & Done
I help entrepreneurs leapfrog over the typical potholes that derail most small businesses with inspiration, motivation, education, and support across a wide range of business topics drawn from over a decade of running my own business, teaching entrepreneurship for the City of New York, and coaching and consulting privately with dozens of women and minority small business owners. Honestly, why go it alone when help is an email away?
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