Are you starting the year with a bang? With gusto? With a huge rev up? Or, are you planning on getting whelmed this year, like me?
Being an Entrepreneur
Lately I’ve been thinking that the definition of an entrepreneur is this:
You’re someone who can’t stand to work for someone else and just wants the freedom and flexibility to march to the beat of their own drum, and write their own rules.
Still, being an entrepreneur means you take the entire responsibility for everything in your business.
That means you are the face of your business, you are IT, and you have to generate your own momentum, schedule, energy, gusto and enthusiasm.
Which is all great stuff, but you can find yourself in a bit of an energy crisis at times.
Getting Excited….and Overwhelmed
Once upon a time, I would be geeing myself up at this time of year, creating massive energy and excitement, planning, and firing myself up to work relentlessly like a trojan for the next 12 months.
It’s a great way to start the year and it feels really positive.
In this state, I am able to crank out HEAPS of work, produce HEAPS of stuff, and keep my finger in 100 different pies at once.
People say to me, “I wish I could be as productive as you.”
“I wish I could get as much done as you.”
“I wish I could work and achieve as much as you do.”
Thanks everyone!
But when I realised this praise didn’t really resonate with me, I had to question why.
The answer I got was this: “Is THIS what I want to be known for? Getting heaps done at a rapid pace?”
Thinking about that made me feel kinda tired.
And the reason is this – working this way starts well, but it ends up exhausting and overwhelming.
You start on a big hype, get heaps done but you just cant sustain it.
You struggle to maintain that level of energy and quickly go from peak to trough.
Then nothing gets done for a while.
Then you just assume you’ve failed or done something wrong, or are missing something.
Then you might start comparing yourself to others and saying….”I wish I could get as much done as her.”
OH NO! We’re ALL in this together! ha ha ha.
But…what if this weren’t true, and we didn’t have to work this way?
Sure, starting super high feels energizing at first, but it invariably means you end up feeling panicked, overworked and overwhelmed.
Then comes the anxiety and insomnia.
I DON’T want to work like that anymore. Do you?
Plan B – Getting Whelmed
Maybe you want to join me in getting whelmed.
Getting whelmed is my plan for 2018.
I coined this term, and it simply means that I am working:
- mostly on important but not urgent stuff,
- intentionally,
- in pomodoro
- on purpose,
- with balance and ease,
- with calmness,
- in a well-organised way,
- making well-thought plans,
- with clear focus
- with direction on where my business is going and what I am doing in my life.
In other words, I am mindful, calm and productive.
It isn’t as exciting as the excitement, BUT…
I am working consistently.
And in business, consistency gets results.
So yes, excitement is great (and I do get excited)….but consistent energy, focus and motivation is better.
I am winning.
The Payoff
In this calm, consistent, getting whelmed state of mind, I find that I am laser focused, productive, leap over roadblocks, feel balanced and I am totally in command of myself.
I am getting shit done (GSD) – much more than in at the start of my rollercoaster.
The #1 Trick to Getting it Right
Working this way is also 100% sustainable because I have help.
Sure, you can absolutely get gung-ho and ramp yourself up for a big year and do it all yourself.
But trust me, the chance that you’ll crash and burn (at least once) is pretty high.
So I highly recommend you get some support.
I have my own coach, and I have other peers and mentors in my life to help me with specific areas of business when I need it.
As an entrepreneur living in country NSW, with few like-minded entrepreneurs around me, I know that I need support and connection to maintain momentum, headspace and confidence in my business AND in my life.
Now, I have people to bounce ideas off (so I don’t go off onto a mad, frivolous tangent).
I have people to reflect with (to get different perspective).
I have tools and support to make worthwhile, high-return plans.
I have the aura of calmness and having it all together (which as we know is the key ingredient for being a super-attractive client magnet and person of interest).
I have the energy to enjoy my personal life.
Now you know what getting whelmed is all about….will you join me?
What will you do to get there?
