Welcome to Week 15 of my adventure of following the Start Up Version of the Grow Your Business Marketing Plan + Calendar. In my posts, I talk about my voyage down the road of self-employment as a VMA, my achievements and roadblocks along the way, and I include a weekly recap at the end.
My head hurts. This afternoon, I found myself thinking, working for someone else was so much easier, maybe I should just give this up. Maybe I should just throw in the towel.
Did I mean it? No… It was just a moment of weakness… a tiny voice yelling from the bottom of a mountain of work. I didn’t mean it—but boy would it be easier if I did.
Why would it be easier? Because self-employment has caused me to take a long, hard look at myself. It’s forced me to confront my weaknesses, and face them head on. And to accept that sometimes, no matter how much I fight, I don’t always win.
But I’m only at Week 15. I can’t expect to have it all figured out, can I?
Today, I feel like it’s a challenge. Today, I doubted whether I was cut out for this. Today, I considered the possibility that my self-discipline wasn’t strong enough for this route of self-employment. Today, I wished I was back sitting in my corporate office collecting my guaranteed, lofty weekly salary.
Then I remembered that what you want is rarely handed to you on a silver platter.
I ran the New York City Marathon in 2007. I’m not a runner, and I’m certainly not built like a runner, but I didn’t let that stop me. I wanted to do it, and I made up my mind. I pushed myself, and found myself amazed at what I was able to achieve… A rigorous training schedule, 26 miles of running (albeit hysterically crying for the last 6), and a realization that I’m strong enough to do whatever I put my mind to.
This made me feel better.
Where do you find your strength and motivation? What successes can you share?
Week 15 Recap: This week, my promo piece has stalled. But I’m not beating myself up. It just needs a little bit more time… Anyway, 15 weeks ago, I would have never imagined I’d have accomplished so much. This week, my weaknesses may have won the battle—but I’m going to win the war.
I remember those days...hang in there. It gets better, really. Sign your own vacation request for the afternoon off and go do something nice for your favorite employee. It will all feel better tomorrow.
Posted by: Mary Guinane McNamara | April 16, 2009 at 04:28 PM
What Mary said.
After all, what's the point of having this unique opportunity to shape our own lifestyle if we're just going to be working and worrying all the time?
You're doing good, sweetheart, remembering where you've had to mobilize strengths and perseverance before. Now can you make a list of things you got done and achieved in the last 15 weeks, to get your focus off the one thing that's stalling right now?
Have a wonderful day and enjoy the weekend,
Dee xx
Posted by: Dee | April 17, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Mary and Dee, thank you so much for your support, I appreciate it!
Posted by: Deidre | April 18, 2009 at 01:33 PM