Today I celebrate two big milestones – my 40th birthday and officially being in business for one year. Last year I set myself a challenge to launch my website and blog on my 39th birthday and I met it with gusto. This year my challenge was pretty much to stay afloat and make it to my 40th in one piece as I juggled all the many balls that I seem to have in the air right now. Did I meet the challenge? Well yes. But I dropped those balls many a time and think it would be remiss of me not to tell you so. We live in a world of social media one upmanship and our feeds are littered with tales of overnight success stories, dream careers, beautifully balanced lives and perfect relationships. When surrounded by so many stories of success, it can be hard to take small actions to improve our own lives. We feel we will never quite be as good as the perfectly polished lives we see on screen so why bother?
Well, we have to remind ourselves that these images are part of a story and an image that someone wants the rest of the world to see. You don’t need me to tell you but very rarely does anyone post the shit stuff. Or perhaps even the insanely mundane stuff. And this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. As a life and career coach, I want my community to be inspired to make the most of their lives and the special gifts they have, to strive for a job they love because life is too short to be miserable and to value our self-care because if we don’t nobody else will.
If I told you about the struggles that I have myself making that happen, despite my training, despite working in the field, well that would be a bit rubbish wouldn’t it? Wouldn’t that make you feel even worse? If I told you that over the past year, since officially launching my business I have:
- Struggled to find clients. My waitlist is certainly not full. I am barely making 5 figures, let alone 6, 7 is an absolute dream.
- Taken on a part-time job, and because I am also studying, my business has essentially become a side hustle.
- Left a social gathering in tears because somebody questioned how anyone could ever pay me to help them.
Would that make you think, well screw that, I am best off staying where I am? Starting a business is too hard. Career change is too hard.
Maybe but I should also tell you that this past year has been, hands down, the BEST year I have had. Yes, I took on a part-time job, but I LOVE my job. It is perfectly aligned with my business. I have learned so much and I have grown my networks. The regular pay has taken the pressure off and it has enabled me to build my business slowly in a way that suits me. My business has become a side hustle but that suits me just fine. If, and when, I stop paid employment, I will be ready to go up a gear in my business and I am brimming with ideas and inspiration.
I have not had a queue of clients forming at the door, but I am realistic that these things take time. I have also been thinking about the products and services I offer and what more I can do to help women who are struggling to have a career and life that is more like them. I want to make sure I’m delivering what you need. Some changes are coming. More on this soon.
I have grown in confidence and my passion for what I do deepens every day. We live in a world that is changing at a rapid pace and the world of work is changing. There are so many opportunities to be happy in that new world of work and I want to do anything I can to advance that. Whether it’s in my business, through my blog, through my employment, through the causes I give to or, even, by the way I parent my children. Over this last year I feel like I have found my calling. I have a vocation in life and that feels AMAZING.
It has not been smooth sailing and I am far from being one of the success stories you see on social media. But I am happy and, for the first time in my life, I am starting to meet my own definition of success.
Are you ready to do the hard work? Are you prepared to have a difficult first year in business or in a new career in order to have so many more good years? Do you want to look beyond what the rest of the world is doing and start meeting your own definition of success? If so, I am here for you. Book in with me for a complimentary career change consultation here. 30 minutes, no obligation. You tell me what’s on your mind and I’ll tell you how I can help.
Until then don’t read too much into the images you see and the overnight stories of success you hear. Do you really know what their first year in business or in their career entailed?