Hold Your Horses!
Starting a new business can be so exciting that we forget that we are not in a race. Yes, we need to be competitive with others in our niche but it is crucial we build strong foundations, for us to still be here for many years to come.
This wonderful term, "Hold your Horses," is an idiom from 1844 in New Orleans. When, I'm sure there were many horse and carts around. Back then, as now there was a tradition of harnessing a young horse in training to an older, wiser horse to steady them. Isn't that what we are doing here? Following in the steps of these talented experienced mentors to help us learn.
We have such a glorious melting pot of talent and experience to help us to learn all aspects of creating our website, writing content and promoting it.
The pressure to move faster than we are ready is high. The temptation to skip a lesson or go off on a tangent can be overwhelming.
Stop! Remind yourself why you started this adventure. They were all good reasons then and nothing has changed but your belief that you may not be able to learn. This is F.E.A.R, False Evidence Appearing Real!
Create a Plan for Yourself
You need a strategy to follow, a focused path to creating a business in your niche. Stepping stones to learn just the next step in your journey. Those shiny new objects are everywhere and look so easy. Nothing is further from the truth. When we don't have a plan for learning and growing our business, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Trust me, we've all been there.
Call a Friend
There used to be a game show in Australia where contestants were asked questions. If they were stuck for an answer, they could choose to pass or call a friend. Every day, I see great questions asked here in WA, these are questions I want answers to as well. I love it that the community jumps in with their expertise or links to information, so we all learn together. Those same friends will not judge you and will be cheering you on.
Push back on feeling overwhelmed
You can do this! If you are feeling overwhelmed that is a good sign. It means you are trying to learn, trying to understand. You need to find a way to take that pressure off for just a moment. Make a cup of coffee, take a walk, play with your children, meditate. While you take a breathe, your mind will be processing what you have read. You will come back fresher, more relaxed and ready to take another step.
Growing Pains
We remember teenage pains of growing up. This is part of life and part of reaching for your dreams. So are the feelings you will have as you grow your business. Like this little foal you will sometimes stumble and get your legs tangled up. But before you know it you will be galloping.
You are loved and accepted here in our community and no matter how long it takes to reach your dreams or how many times you stumble, we will be here to help.
By teaching, you will learn better.
By sharing, your soul will be nurtured.
By caring, you will grow.
Stay with us so we can celebrate all your wins.
Thank you my friends.
Lily
Recent Comments
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All great points Lily! It is easy for new members to feel overwhelmed. There seems to be a hundred different things to do at once and you start spinning around and feeling out of control as you jump from one to the next to the next.
There are some steps here that are more important than others. For example. I believe quality content using great keywords is always the highest priority. Some people get totally bogged down in social media or other aspects early on and then get discouraged. I learned that social media is not even necessary when we are starting out and some successful members here rely on organic traffic entirely. It helps to learn which aspects are most important and focus on those first.
It is also very easy to get distracted by shiny objects. We must resist!
Jessica
See, now you're just being too kind.
"You are loved and accepted here in our community and no matter how long it takes to reach your dreams or how many times you stumble, we will be here to help."
Sounds pretty eloquent to me. 😊
Most new business owners have no clue of what it actually takes to generate revenue. They also forget about all the things like bookkeeping and taxes and regulation and time freedom, location freedom, financial freedom.
If you've never had to deal with these things it can be a surprise.
You have to remind yourself of all the freedom eventually.
Very good points.
Lily 😊
Really nice post!
You're absolutely right. The important thing is to reach our goal at our own pace without burning the steps.
Ingrid
Definitely Ingrid. We must set our own pace so we can go the distance to success.
Thanks for your kind comments
Lily 😊
That is a great post ....i love the line by,sharing ,your soul will be nurtured. I get that everyday here by sharing with others and when they share with us as you just did .
Tim
Too late the Melbourne was last Tuesday.
When I was a lad I wanted to be an adult now nearly 80 years I want to be younger.
"Grow Your Life to Learn then Earn." Tom Short.
"It does not take any longer than your ability will allow." Tom Short.
Thank you for your training,
Tom.
You are welcome Tom. It takes a village to raise a child and some of us newbies are still taking our first baby steps.
Warm wishes
Lily ☀️
My great grandmother received one of those and was thrilled. That gives you many more years with us and towards your success. Yeah!😊
Thanks, Lily for an inspiring Saturday post.
I agree we are not in a race but rather a marathon and that requires a different set of tactics.
Having patience and being consistent will bring the results in the long-term.
Another key is, of course, building a strong foundation that will stand the test of time.
All the best to you today.
Darren :)
How kind you are Darren. Yes, this is a place of new rules that will see us to our success. I like that, a marathon, not a race.
Lily 😊
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Thank you for that LIly.
That is a good reminder that we are making progress and that it isn't a race. Sometimes you can get caught up in the momentum of other members and compare your progress to theirs.
It is good to look at how far you have come and realize that you are making good progress as well.
Karen
Absolutely Karen. I guess in the bigger picture, there will always be someone ahead of us and someone behind us. We have a tremendous opportunity to learn from those ahead and support and encourage those behind.
An ideal world.
Wishing you great success
Lily 😊🎶