By Harriet Cohen, Business Development Specialist for WEV’s Thrive Program
When I was asked to write a blog post for WEV, I first went through my blogs, and there are many, then I went through previous articles and my e-books trying to decide what would interest readers. Then I thought about the terrific Thrive clients I have the honor to work with.
They have all heard me talk about marketing and planning ad nauseum. We often talk about what they need to do or fix. What I want to remind them about is all they have accomplished and how far they have come despite obstacles.
I know they often feel this is taking too long. I say you eat the elephant one bite at a time but don’t we all want it all right now. Ok I’ve been dieting for at least 24 hours I should have lost 10 pounds. I sent out my newsletter I expect 5-10 new qualified clients now. Wouldn’t it be wonderful it if that’s how it worked or would it? There is the expression anything worth having is worth working for.
As I tell any of the clients or students I work with, create the plan then work the plan one step at a time. Achieve your goals by completing each task until suddenly you look around and you realize how far you have come. There is no overnight success. Malcolm Gladwell talked about 10,000 hours in his book “Outliers”.
In this article I would like to remind all of you to think about how you perceive yourself and how that translates to how well your business is doing and how good you feel about you. Are you being the best for you or are you grumbling about why others seem to have it better, easier, or nicer? Are you so focused on the things you have not accomplished that you forgot all the amazing things you have done?
What are you doing to recharge you to see your purpose and your strengths to be who you were meant to be and the best you deserve?
I had the good fortune to see Joan Rivers at a women’s conference where she told the audience to have their pity party, if they must, with or without the ice cream but after 2 days get out of bed face the world and get back on track. All of our roads have bumps and pot holes, and even garbage. We can get stuck there and complain or we can, and this is the hard part, regain our value, be a better boss for ourselves and realize the road to success is wide open. We just have to be willing to do our best work.
Maya Angelou, who is among my favorite speakers and writers, said we teach people how to treat us so when we complain about it we merely need to look in the mirror. How many times have you said I can do this myself; then don’t understand why you are overwhelmed and nobody is there to help? Or I can’t do this I am a failure, why do they have money and I don’t? Gee, maybe they were in business longer so they are making more money. Maybe others are taking more positive actions and having a more positive attitude about how far they have come.
What message are you sending your clients, family and friends? Don’t just tell people how you want to be treated, show them and expect nothing less. Don’t you deserve to be treated well? You are a success—show them that.
Robert Burns wrote, “What a gift to give us to see ourselves as others see us.” Are you seeing your business and yourself as your customers do? Maybe it’s time! They come to you because of what you have accomplished not what you still need to do.
I encourage you to write a list of all you accomplished since you started your business and recognize your strengths as you begin to plan your goals for 2015. Add one goal about being a better guide for yourself and know that the opportunities are waiting for you and your success. You have come this far there is no limit to how far you can go.
Harriet Cohen is a Business Development Specialist for WEV’s Thrive program.
She is the Founder of Training Solutions providing foundational tools for every stage of a business and career from planning to people to resumes.
