Break Free from the Top 10 Excuses Holding You Back
Procrastination often takes the shape of excuses. We make excuses to get out of doing the work we know we have to do to see our business succeed. And although there are real barriers to creating success in our business - systemic racism, sexism and discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender - there are some excuses we can learn to let go of.
Here’s a list of the top excuses holding you back - and how to break free!!
1) I don’t feel like working.
A lot of us were taught that to work on a creative project - like our business - we have to be in the mood. We resist setting consistent work hours as it feels too much like a job. And we wait for inspiration to strike to be in the mood to work.
To see real progress in your business, you have to work whether you feel like it or not. More often than not, when you sit down at your appointed time, and get going, suddenly the mood is there.
Get to work!
2) I don’t have anyone to work with.
We’re taught that to really succeed in business we have to find the perfect mentor to inspire and motivate us to keep going.
You can spend time finding your community. They’re out there, Go to networking events - even online networking events can connect us to people who have similar goals and challenges as we do. Reach out to the friend of a friend who has a business. Join Facebook groups. Buy group online courses. Last spring I craved being part of a mastermind group of women business owners, so I made it happen. It was as simple as saying: “Want to come to this coffee shop next week at 9?”
But also remember that you can inspire yourself. Keep a journal on hand with quotes that lift you up, or practice a motivating thought or mantra like: “I’m right where I need to be right now.” You inspire others - probably more than you realize - you can inspire yourself!
Be your own role model!
3) The last time I tried a new venture, I failed.
It’s hard to fail. It’s not easy to make public mistakes. It can feel embarrassing, shameful, and disappointing. It can make us not want to risk again for fear of being burned.
Learning to process the emotions that come up when you fail is key to keeping momentum going. Naming the emotion. Noticing where you feel it in your body. Using movement or thought work or talking it through with a trusted friend can help you move forward. It’s part of being in business to experiment and fail. And of course it’s simply part of being alive and human.
Try again!
4) I don’t have the right clothes.
Not having the right clothes is a very particular excuse, but one that really does hold a lot of us back. We look at our role models on social media, and they’re slick and professionally lit, and have the right outfit for their photo shoot. We think: “I can’t just show up on my Stories wearing my boring, old clothes, I’ll show up on video when I can afford to go shopping. But of course I can’t afford to shop right now, ‘cause I’m not making money so I’ll just sit here and wait.”
Don’t wait to be perfect. Do it now. Show up exactly as you are right now. You will be a breath of fresh air to someone who’s looking for someone exactly like you. Post images, show your face, wear what you want. You don’t need to be perfectly turned out to add value to the world.
Be yourself!
5) I’m too old (or too young)
We talk ourselves out of our goals and visions because we convince ourselves that we’re too old (or too young) for owning a successful business and being the CEO of our dreams.
Instead of looking for evidence that supports your notion that no one your age is doing the things you want to do, or worse beating yourself up because others are way further ahead than you at the same age, try keeping your eyes in your own lane. Your age is irrelevant to your vision. Find a way to make it happen - sometimes we have to alter our vision or our plans because we have true age limitations holding us back, but most of the time it’s simply a mindset.
You’re exactly the right age!
6) I’m too tired.
A lot of us are tired. Kids, work, home, and the myriad of stresses that accompany our day to day lives. Grocery shopping, meal planning and cooking come to mind. Then cleaning up from the stupid cooking. We tell ourselves we’re too tired to do anything else tonight. We’ll lie on the couch and hopefully rest enough so that we’ll magically feel energized tomorrow.
I’ve said this many times before but it bears repeating: Movement creates energy. Exercise strengthens our bodies’ abilities to handle stress, to sustain focus and concentration, and to keep us positive. If you’re tired and feel like collapsing on the couch, tell yourself to go for even just a ten minute walk, or take a few minutes to stretch. The rush of energy you’ll feel will be enough of a push to get the last task on your To Do List done.
Get moving!
7) I’m uncomfortable.
“I’m uncomfortable being on video.” “I’m uncomfortable public speaking.” “I’m uncomfortable asking for the sale.” We started our business with high hopes and dreams of doing the thing we loved on a daily basis. We were sold on the idea that to do the thing you loved, your days would never feel like work. So we were shocked to discover that so many parts of our business requires us to do things we’re really uncomfortable doing.
Get comfortable being uncomfortable. This is the best advice I ever received. I was stuck for years in procrastination as I kept coming up to tasks that were really uncomfortable to do so I assumed I was on the wrong track, and would abandon my project rather than push through the discomfort. Was I ever wrong about this. Please, please don’t do this. When it gets uncomfortable and hard, learn how to push through. Learn how to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. This is where the growth and magic happens. I wish I’d known this earlier. It’s my absolute mission to help you break this pattern if this is you.
Get uncomfortable being uncomfortable!
8) I don’t know how to work the technology.
If you have a business plan that is going to get your product or service in the hands of your ideal clients, and you need a Lead Magnet, Landing Page, and Email Sequencing to make that happen, except you don’t have a hot clue how to make that happen, hire someone. Many of us will say: “I don’t have the money for that so I’ll spend three months of my life learning how instead of hiring someone who could do it in an afternoon.” What we’re really saying is “I don’t value my own time. I don’t believe I can make back that amount of money I invest in hiring someone.”
Hire someone. Believe in your business. Believe in yourself. Believe in your abundant future enough so that you know it’s worth spending the money to get the task done so you can concentrate on income generating plans. You don’t need to know how to work all the technology.
Hire someone!
9) I’m afraid of being judged or criticized.
If you’re stopping yourself from taking on challenges because you fear being judged or criticized, know this is valid. Women who put themselves out there and take risks to show up and be seen and heard, are often put down, and torn apart. So we play it safe and only post vanilla images and topics, when inside we have so much more to say.
Fill your social media feed with images of powerful women who express themselves and their views and are fighting for an anti-racist, pro-feminist, pro LGBTQ world. They do have haters. They don’t all have thick skins. They are honest that sometimes the comments are really hard to take. But they have learned to find solace from other women making change, learned to not take the criticism of people they don’t admire personally, and learned that showing up in all their glory is worth it.
Take up space! Be seen! Be heard!
10) I’m not an expert in my field.
This excuse has many faces: “I’m not good enough,” “I need to get one more degree or diploma and then I’ll be ready.” “I need to buy another course and then I can do what I want to do.” We talk ourselves out of doing things because we think we need permission from some imaginary board of directors that will declare us ready.
Give yourself permission. Trust your own knowing. Trust your own experience of having lived, studied, and been curious about the world. You have so much to offer right now. Your goals for your business are possible. Hard work, determination, and a willingness to keep going when the going gets tough accounts for 99% of success. You have what it takes. Believe in your abilities.
Believe in yourself!
Break Free From the Top 10 Excuses Holding You Back
