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?
Slowing My Roll
Maybe you’re one of those people who hit the ground running when January 1st rolls around. Out with the old and in with the new, improved you.
And, if you are, more power to you!
But I am most definitely not.
The holiday season comes with its own kind of pressures, stressors, and burn-out and by the time New Year’s rolls around, I’m maybe just beginning to allow myself to chill out and relax.
So, I’m in no rush to get right back to it even when everyone in my inbox and social media feeds wants to help me kick-start, jump-start, and/or make the most of each and every day.
No thanks. I’ll pass.
In truth, my relationship to the change of year has always been bittersweet. And, while I’ve spent plenty of January firsts writing lists of resolutions, objectives, and ‘new you’ goals, I stopped doing it a long time ago.
Because, as you might imagine, it made me feel worse about myself rather than better and more inspired.
I also used to read all those articles and posts and messages about productivity and healthy habits.
And then I’d feel kind of bad about myself, thinking, “Wow, it’s the first week of a new year and I’m already failing and falling short.”
So, you know what? I’m not doing that again.
This year, I’ve created what I’m calling the Slow It Down Movememt, or Slow-Mo for short, as an approach to entering the new year in a kinder, gentler fashion.
Basically, Slow-Mo is all about creating the space and time necessary to build back up to 100% so that when I get there, I'm happy to be there.
After all, if you want to run a marathon, you don’t start with a 26.2 mile jog the first day of training.
You’ve got to work up to that.
It’s the same with our emotional and intellectual energy.
Here's what my Slow-Mo approach entails:
- Constraining meetings per week (and per day) to the absolute minimum for much of January to avoid feeling overwhelmed and behind schedule.
- Setting only a couple of small goals for myself each week and slowly adding to their complexity and challenge level.
- Setting aside time to enjoy my hobbies and passions (reading, knitting, learning to crochet, cooking) without feeling guilty about it.
- Limiting my email and social media reviews and check-ins each day so I avoid the psychological impact they can have on stress and wellbeing.
- Putting some more fun, celebratory get togethers on my calendar while responding to holiday and new year’s messages and greetings so I make sure to keep connecting and building strong relationships all year long.
If you're not quite ready to take on the new year with gusto yourself, then why not join me?
Create your own Slow-Mo approach so you’re continuing to feed your soul, following your natural rhythms, and ramping up to fully charged in the way that works best for you.
If you give it a try, let me know.
And if you’re already raring to go, let me know how I can help you achieve your goals and keep that momentum going strong all year long.
Until next week, I hope your new year is better than what you imagine is possible.
A few folks asked, so I've extended my Post Black Friday Offer into January.
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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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