Are You Pacing Yourself?
Hi Family!
I always love writing blogs to my wealthy affiliate family. In just 6 short months you have filled my days and nights with fun, learning and laughter. I feel so fortunate to have tripped over this learning platform.
Yesterday at my birthday party, I came clean with several people as to why I've been so busy for months. My husband was at my shoulder nodding vigorously, as he has been watching my dedication from the sidelines. I was pleasantly surprised with the response and the encouragement. But one question kept coming up.
Are you sure you're not doing too much?
I felt like say H..... Yeah!! I'm sure! But writing this today I realized that I haven't been so much
doing too much but really working hard at my business. Honestly, it's 2 hours on my phone in the community in the morning, 2 hours in the community at night. 2-3 hours a day doing lessons and writing content. Does this sound familiar?
Do I begrudge the time? Yes, sometimes. Juggling home, hubby and a musical career is tough at times and when I get it wrong, people are unhappy. But this is my dream. Financial freedom for the rest of my life and creating something special, a feeling of accomplishment.
Are you pacing yourself?
This is incredibly hard to do and you need to make an effort right from the beginning, so that you don't burn out and quit! All this new information and strange technology, can make you feel overwhelmed at the beginning. It has taken me 6 months to make a lot of it, my friend called habit!
This is not a sprint!
If you are serious and here for the long term, pace yourself. Occasionally, take a day off! Breath, relax your mind and absorb what you have learned. Do just a few bare essentials, so you are fresh the next day to come back and dig in again.
All great athletes have learned how to pace themselves. It's not a case of doing nothing, it's mentally taking the pressure off yourself for a short while.
I like to stand outside of myself and review what I am doing. If I had employed me to build a
business.
- Am I doing enough small steps everyday?
- What is my planned task for today?
- Does each section I have planned fit with the big picture?
- Do I need to ask a question?
- Should I write a blog today?
- Can I help someone in the community?
Is this like a job?
Yes and no!
YES
Running a business takes as much time as a job initially.
The only difference is that after 3-5 years you will have a cash flow that you created, you own and a business that you can sell if you want.
NO
If you work the same time in a job, you will pay your bills today, this week, next month. That's it, you may get enough super to retire on, or not! Welfare is just not fun at all. So compared to working forever, building a business is quality time for you and your future life.
Let's look at a normal week (is there ever a normal week?)
In a job you will work at least 8 hours, 5 days a week = 40 hours
To build your business you need to allocate at least 4 hours a day!
That's 4 hours a day, 5 days a week = 20 hours
Now how serious are you, in reaching your dream of freedom? You are going to have to trade free time now, for long term gain in 3-5 years.
If you are working a job then you will need to make that time around your work hours. Perhaps, even do a lot on the weekend.
You will have to take time from other things you used to do. That could be.
- TV time
- Video game time
- Chatting on the phone
- Party time
- Socializing
You eat every day, brush your teeth, shower and work your business!
Get Creative
- It's amazing where you can slip a few minutes in answering comments, replying to questions and thinking up content. In the car as a passenger.
- While you are waiting for your partner, hit Jaaxy and find your next keywords for a post.
- If you drive a lot, work through the key points for a post in your head. When you stop, write the bare bones down, ready for when you are on your computer.
- Review your plans for writing the next day in your mind while cooking dinner
- Consider where you are in your lessons and what you need to do next
- Make content plans while having lunch at work
- Plan your next step while doing the housework
- Play with ideas all the time in you head when you have a moment at the dentists
No it isn't easy but it's simple if you plan ahead and make a commitment!
I would love to see all the premium people stay around forever, build their dream business and enjoy this new internet world.
Sadly, we will lose about three quarters or 75% of all people starting to create a business. That's just the facts of life. There are always reasons to stop. Life can be difficult and dramatic but regret looking back can be heartbreaking.
Will you persist?
Make a commitment today to find a pace that works for you, one you can fit into your life today and forever. This one habit will pay the biggest dividends of your life.
I am wishing you all so much success.
Dig in my family and make it happen!
If you would like to share your tips for pacing, please do.
Big hugs and love
LILY x
Recent Comments
89
If this was a job where I was employed by someone else to write articles, I would have already been fired. My brain has to rely on my unstable mood (mental problems and meds are to blame) to get zoned to write. Then I have to research. Like everyone else here, I find that the more I research something, the less I actually know. Whew!
In the words of the 'Kurgen' from the first Highlander film "It's better to burnout, than fade away"
Actually not good advice, he paid the price.
Pacing yourself is, of course, crucial. There could be a ways to go on our journey, better to complete the quest, than to fall by the wayside, tired and frustrated.
Learn and work hard but make sure to take quality time for yourself.
10pm comes and I will watch something I enjoy for half an hour or so, a nice wind down.
Belated birthday wishes to you Lily.
Thanks for the birthday wishes Twack.
I try to have mini breaks with walking the dog, a little read etc.
It keeps me fresh.
Have a lovely day
Lily 😁🎶🎶
Thank you, Lily for writing this blog post. Pacing is super important- we have all read the story about the tortoise and the hare, and certainly, continued perseverance is key to making progress.
I used to think that writing lots of goals on a 3x5 card and reading it over and again was the key to mindfully chopping through towards my ultimate destination, but the last few years I have tried a new idea: run on conviction.
What does an entrepreneur need more than anything in the early days? Perseverance, optimism, a taste of success, a resonant audience? How about all four! It can be so depleting to the newbie when the first steps take longer than they ought - but hey, that’s life!
When we run on conviction, we naturally bring out the deepest and most sincere part of our being. We speak the hard truths, we adhere to the difficult chores, because we believe in what we are doing. The people who are authentic to their deepest convictions can outlast anything, and “so hold on, when there is nothing left except that will that says to you ‘hold on’”
Sure, we all grow exhausted.
Sure, burnout is lurking around the corner, to tear us down and make our work ineffective.
But if we truly believe in what we are building, if we believe our message brings hope and success nearer to others, we can persevere as long as may be necessary.
Cheers,
Matthew
Excellent post Lily. I've definitely cut off all the other things that you've listed that take my time and energy away from my niche and business.
I think the hard part for me has been finding the right balance - treating it as a marathon and not a sprint - while still finding time to rest and live life a little so I can stay around longer.
Thanks for the post - I've added it to my top ten list. 👍
And Happy Birthday!
Isaiah 😊
Very kind comments and the birthday wishes.
You are talented Isaiah and I know you will go far.
Cheers
Lily 😊🎵
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An important and needed message as we start the new year and decade, Lily. A very accomplished writer and educator was once asked what he could do better. His answer was " I could sleep better."
He wasn't joking. He has made it his priority to get more sleep. That is his solution to pacing himself. Pacing is definitely needed no matter what form it comes in.
For me listening to a Neil Diamond song always seems a good way for me to just de-stress. Whatever works.
Thabo
Very wise words Thabo.
I enjoy a quiet read, it really helps.
Take care and enjoy this year.
Lily 😁🎵