Today is a new beginning for my business and for myself.
Today feels exciting and daunting at the same time.
Today starts a new journey, out of my comfort zone, but full of hope and joy to keep helping others in a more effective and productive way.
All started 6 months ago, when I came to the realization that something needed to change in my business to be fully fulfilled. This time it wasn’t about not enjoying what I do, as I love my profession, but more around the feeling that I could be doing so much more.
Have you ever felt this way? Do you feel this way now?
I knew I could be reaching more people. I could be helping more women to be fulfilled. I could be having a bigger impact. But I was not having the right tools. It was time to take action, to create change, to give me the best chances to reach my goals.
It was a clear illustration of Einstein’s definition of insanity:
”Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”
The last 4 months I’ve been working on renewing my understanding of my audience (so all of you reading this right now…), crafting the right words to connect with you and so redefining my whole marketing strategy. There’s been fun weeks, struggling weeks, desperate weeks. But today I’m happy to share a new website and blog which I hope you will find useful and inspiring to help you find fulfillment. I’d love to take the chance now to thank everyone without who this post and everything behind it would have been impossible. Thanks to Kari, Lisi, Gailu, Ana G., Elena C., Ana R., JuanMa, Raed, Loreto, Raquel B, Paula N, Ana B., Marilina, Karin, Ignacio and my girls for the support, the feedback, the insights and the constructive challenges.
Have you noticed with change, that once you solve a struggle a new one arises. Really!?
So my marketing strategy is ready to hit the road. However a new struggle is showing up, blogging regularly, which means I need to leave my comfort zone again. Blogging is the most daunting thing ever for me. I’ve been consciously trying to avoid it, for too long it seems.
Procrastination… rings a bell?
I’m sure you have all been there sometime. You may be even master of excuses: I’m not ready, I’m not good enough, tomorrow would be better, I don’t have time, I don’t know where to start, I need to update my skills, I don’t have the connections, I don’t deserve it, I don’t have the money… I could go on and on for pages.
I recently learned that procrastination is a way of stress relief. So stress is the trigger to get into procrastination mode that becomes a habit.
So what will you do about it?
> The first step is to really be honest with yourself and realize what is really worrying you, what’s the source of stress.
> The second step is to be ok with the situation you are in now as you have the choice to change it. Remember, your behaviours and thoughts can be changed.
> The third step is to create a new habit that will help get the change you are looking for. To create this new habit, you have to come up with a starting ritual and then take a small step. The idea behind the starting ritual is to avoid overthinking and your brain to talk you out of your intended actions. Research say we have a very short span of time for that, 5 seconds according to Mel Robbins. The idea behind small steps is more obvious, we are looking for consistency so it easier to get into the habit of something easy at first. Once you’ve taken the rhythm, you can invest more time or do more sophisticated tasks.
> The fourth step is to choose a reward to celebrate you are taking action.
So what will I do about my blogging procrastination?
Step one: I know my source of stress is the judgement of others and the commitment I think it means. I’m learning to see blogging as a service to others but it’s not always that straight forward. And I’m trying to change my perspective around commitment to make it more playful. If I don’t like writing regularly, I could always try videos, if not something else. I’ll find a way 😉
Step two: I’m ok with the fact that I’ve never blogged and that I need to go through the learning curve. What’s the worst that can happen?!
Step three: My ritual for now is to wake up and write for 30min. That’s it, no more to start. Hopefully, at the end of the week I’ll have something that makes sense to share with you.
Step four: My reward in August… family breakfast full of Spanish treats.
In summary, the trick is starting, doing it anyway, despite all your excuses… and learn to be comfy in discomfort. My goals are too worthy and important to me not to try. And the same goes for you.
“You will not grow without attempting to do things you are unable to do”
Dr. Henry Cloud
So enough of me now and let focus on you.
What are you procrastinating right now?
Are you ready to create a new beginning?
Are you willing to put the work and crush your goals, even through discomfort?
To your fulfillment,
Sophie
“Hate Mondays? 5 Steps to Unlock a More Fulfilling career.»
If you are procrastinating around changing your work, I can help you to take action, so step 3. , you will receive daily emails to help you take action to create a new beginning for yourself and career.
