The Stories We Tell
It has taken a minute (okay, two years) to get my entrepreneurial feet under me in Mississippi.
The reason? Hello, pandemic. It has changed how everyone does everything. Brene’ Brown has a beautiful podcast in which she talks about FFT’s. FFT stands for First Fucking Time. Guess what this was my first pandemic, first time to sell my home, first time to start over in a new state, first time to restart a business in a new state AND during a pandemic. There is no manual or handbook for this.
But guess who (unknowingly) took the blame? My poor sweetheart. Anytime I got discouraged at my business growth, I would say to myself “It’s because he doesn’t take my business serious. He doesn’t understand that washing his clothes is taking away from the time I need to spend building my new empire.” (I am laughing at myself as I write this.)
Believe me. He 100% supports my success. But that was the story in my head. We all have one we tell ourselves. How many times have you told yourself a story about why you can’t prepare healthy foods or maintain a regular workout regimen?
One day while wallowing in a pool of self-pity and blame placing, I remembered reading one of Byron Katies books called “The Work.” In that book, she has a place where you write down the story you are telling yourself about another person and then flip it.
For me, it went from “He does not take my business serious and that’s why I don’t have the time to work on it.” To “I don’t take my business serious and that is why I don’t have time to work on it.”
Ugh. That clarity hurt so bad. That clarity also inspired change. I went and rented a shared office space and began to “take my business seriously.” That meant drawing boundaries around time and resources.
I immediately went out and rented a workspace from a company called Office Evolution. It’s a creative place where entrepreneurs can rent space and have an office outside of their home. The creative energy is palpable there. This space has allowed my health coaching business to finally stand on its own two feet. Why?
Number one, I am on the hook for a monthly note. While it is small in the relative scheme of things, its not nothing. That plays into my decisions when I am contemplating volunteering to do an errand that can wait or going into the office and working toward goals that have been set. Generally, it influences me to go into the office and knock out the days tasks before moving on to other household tasks. The funny thing is, most of it gets done. And if the camper doesn’t get clean, who cares. I have never been to a funeral and heard people talking about how clean or dirty a home was kept.
The biggest attitude shift has been the lack of resentment I feel when involved in the household mundane tasks. As it turns out focusing on my health (physical and financial) makes me a better partner and parent. Being on the hook and the happier mindset is part of what helps keep me consistent. (When people invest in time with a health coach or personal trainer, they experience similar shifts.)
The second reason is because of the energy I mentioned earlier. When you hang out with likeminded people who are excited and focused, that rubs off on you. Energy is contagious. This same concept is why people that have trainers, coaches, a gym or a group of friends that are into healthy things find it easier to reach their goals.
With all that being said, my time is up in the office for today. Before I go, I want to let you know that I am offering $100 off 12-week coaching contracts. The cost is normally $197.00 a month, but right now while I learn a new software system, it is $97 a month. This offer will end April 15th. If you have entertained the idea of working with a health coach, now is a great time to do so.
You will get weekly 30-minute phone or video calls. You will schedule them through an online link just like many of you scheduled your massages. You will pick the time that works for you and I will call you at that time.
You also get a food and lifestyle app which is very similar to MyFitnessPal but this one is much nicer. It also allows me to see your progress and check in on you when you miss a day or two of food documentation. You get a lot of accountability with this program.
To schedule your Q&A call click this link to make your appointment: https://p.bttr.to/3hJtqk6