What Would I do Differently?
Wow!!
This is a question someone asked me recently.
If I was setting up in business again, would I do anything differently?
If I could go back in time and give some advice to myself, what would it be?
After a long think, I came up with the following list:
- I would not waste time wondering if I was 'good enough'
- I would say 'yes' to a lot more opportunities a lot quicker
- I would push myself out of my comfort zone more
- I would believe in my abilities more
- I would trust my instincts
- I would let go of much more and not worry
I noticed a huge growth in my business when I started to push myself out of my comfort zone. This was in 2000 and if I had known all this when I set up my business in 1994, then I would have done it sooner. There are a lot of things in business that we think we don't like or we're no good at, but once we push ourselves to do those things, they become much easier.
I see this so much in the area of sales. A lot of my business mentees hate sales calls and sales meetings and will shy away from them. But all of us running a business have to deal with selling ourselves and our products - it just is! And the sooner we get comfortable with it, the better.
What would you do differently?
I love that…what would I do differently. Truly is something to think about…I only go back to 2005 but definitely something to ponder. Matter of fact I still wonder what else would I want to do? Or, should I be doing something different…I love what I do and I am really great at it..but the Gemini side of me always wants more! Thanks You…I tweeted you too!
Hi Michelle and welcome,
Thanks so much for tweeting me – I really appreciate that.
And I really understand where you’re coming from being a fellow Gemini!!!!
I hear that voice too “should I be doing this? Or this? Oh look at that shiny new thing over there!” LOL.
We are like butterflies flitting from one thing to another. The positive side of this is that we can do and think about lots of things all at once. I have to focus on one thing at a time though,otherwise I would get totally distracted (I’ve had to train myself to do that and I can always feel the pull of new exciting things 🙂
We can also use our limitless creativity and are ideal at on-line business as we are born networkers, communicators and teachers – Yay! Go us!!!
Hi Heather- It’s really nice to see you being so humble about how you started out. You never really see that many people talk about what they would do differently- a lot of people just talk about how successful they are.
However, at the end of the day, no matter how you start your business, relationship, or pretty much anything- there’s always things we wish we could have done differently. I think the point is to regret it.
Becky Kate recently posted..California Corporation Filing- LA- Orange County DBA Filing Service- LLC Formation CA
Becky,
Welcome and thank you for your lovely words.
I believe that all our experiences make us who we are today and I don’t regret decisions I made in the past. I just thought if I could go back to my younger self with some wisdom, those are the things I would give her.
No such thing as failure – just feedback for next time! I learn a lot from looking back and can bring that learning into the future with me.
Thanks Becky
Heather x
Oh Great Question! I think I’d hire a coach – someone who has actually been successful in business, and not just done training as a coach – and have them help me figure out what strategy to use to get where I wanted to go, instead of using lots of trial and error. I’ve learned a LOT from trial and error so that’s not all bad – I reckon tapping into someone else’s experience can shortcut the whole process 🙂
Sandy,
What a great answer.
When I first came on-line in 2007 I learnt by trial and error too and it took forever. Once I got myself a mentor, everything fell into place and moved me so much quicker.
Heather x
So much I would do differently about my online business, all of the above plus build one domain and stick with it until successful and making $. Maintain a focus and follow through, model someone who is successful and inspires you
That’s just for starters:)
Be kind to yourself and keep putting one foot in front of the other.
love
Suzie xx
wow 2 posts in 1 day
Suzie Cheel recently posted..Does Keeping Your Commitments Empower You Prescription 5
Suzie,
Yes – Great point!
Stick with one thing until it’s successful, then add another.
It’s so easy to get distracted by the new shiny thing.
Heather x
Reflections — love it!
I believe, Heather, re-examining almost any past experience in life — including starting a business — will reveal some flaws and maybe even a few regrets. And I feel strongly that’s it all part of the design of life. Things in life aren’t supposed to go like clockwork or smooth as silk. Why? If they did, we wouldn’t learn very much or have the opportunity to stretch or grow as human beings. In a perfect world, life and business would be downright boring.
Is there anything I would have done differently if given the chance? You bet! I would have to include all six items on your list plus flush my perfectionism down the toilet! 🙂
Very worthwhile and noteworthy topic!
Melanie Kissell @SoloMompreneur recently posted..“Tug of War” For Entrepreneurs
Melanie,
Thanks for those important words.
And I really relate to flushing the perfectionism down the toilet.
I’ve wasted so much time waiting until everything is perfect, now I put things up when they are ‘good enough’ and then tweak as I go.
It’s such a relief to give myself permission to do that 🙂
Heather x
Hi Heather, I finally got out of my comfort zone too and decided to blog. As always, it isn’t as bad as we think it is and surprisingly, I am enjoying this new activity. By stepping out of our comfort zone means believing in your own abilities and that you have what it takes to do it. I am not always comfortable with stepping outside my comfort zone and tend to first stretch and when I am warmed up, I take that step 🙂 It’s small steps for me but it’s a step.
Diana Simon recently posted..DoFollow Dilemma Resolved
Welcome Diana,
Thanks for your comment – I agree, often the discomfort and dread of a thing is often worse than the actually thing itself lol.
So glad you’re enjoying blogging and pushing the boundaries of your comfort zone. I’ve always found that each time I step out of my comfort zone, my business grows – and my comfort zone gets bigger too!
Heather x
Hello Heather,
Thank you for pointing out: “I would not waste time wondering if I was ‘good enough’”!
I am in a middle of a career transition right now and feels a lot of doubt of my next steps. Lovely post! ~Kei
Kei San Pablo recently posted..Social Media Manager- Why It Is Important
Kei,
Hello and welcome,
I’m so glad you found my post useful.
We often waste time doubting ourselves instead of just taking action.
Repeat after me “I’m more than good enough!” say it everyday at least 3 times 🙂
Keep in touch and let us all know how you’re getting on.
Best wishes
Heather x
Hi Heather,
This is such a perfectly-timed question for me – I just re-started with a business coach to help me focus, decide where I want to go in my business, and be accountable for the actions I commit to… and as someone else said in this thread, I should have got more business coaching a lot earlier! (Having said that, the financials were a challenge… so I guess things are happening just perfectly the way they are now…)
Perfectionism and fear are the 2 things I would show the door straight away… in addition to most, if not all, of your suggestions.
For me perfectionism and fear are pretty much 2 sides of the same coin of “I’m not good enough so I’d better do it perfectly so no one can point fingers” and “What if I mess up anyway…. so I’ll just wait till I know more & then try and do something about it” ….argh, stop it Tracey!
We need to remind ourselves that if we can’t continue learning we may as well be dead … and this includes learning more about something we think we “should” now more about, that’s cool – no one can possibly know everything! (Note to self… remember this!!)
Thanks for the great reminder Heather!
Tracey x
Tracey Rissik recently posted..Getting your website found locally
Tracey,
I’m so glad you’re with your coach and moving things forward. You are spot on with this ‘perfectionism’ thing. Until very recently I was still in that mode. In fact this blog is a perfect (lol) example of how not to be perfect. I actually put the blog up and said ‘this is what you’re going to get’ and then started doing it. In the past I would have waited until I had everything in place before I dared to tell anyone. When the site went ‘live’ I had 3 pages up: About, Contact & Home – that was it. But I knew I was going to be building it as I went and that’s ‘Good Enough’.
Otherwise, we would never get anything started.
Keep up the good work.
Heather x
Oh my gosh, well you already said it! What more is there to say, Heather? 🙂
I think believing in myself and letting myself get excited about it, even in the beginning, is what I would do differently.
Jeanine Byers Hoag recently posted..How to Create a Month of Outfits w- 10 Items or Less Part Two
Awww, that’s lovely Jeanine,
Often we don’t give ourselves permission to really enjoy ‘our moment in the spotlight’.
Let’s commit to celebrating all our successes from now on.
Self belief is such a big factor and can even stop us from taking that first important step ~ so well done you for coming such a long way.
Yay! We believe in you xxx
Certainly moving out of my comfort zone would be top of the list. Asking for help, rather than thinking I can do all by myself. Learn to NO, still find the later very difficlut to do.
Ann,
Love your list!
Moving out of our comfort zone is probably the fastest way to grow both personally and professionally.
Asking for help is so important. When I came online I did what everyone else was doing – muddling along trying to find things out. The minute I asked for help, it was like someone had switched a light on for me – wow! What a difference.
Learning to say ‘No’ is going to be a very powerful shift for you. Practise with little things and grow into the bigger things. Remember, every time you say ‘Yes’ to someone else, you are saying ‘No’ to yourself. Claim back your power and your time and take control – you can do it.
Much love
Heather x