Running a business takes courage, resilience, persistence and much more. Running a business requires us to be brave.
A recent article on this blog attracted a lot of comments: “Why can’t people be honest about how much help they have?” If you missed it click here
Felicity wrote: “Ingrid, thanks so much for this. I’m exhausted and because I’m exhausted I cannot face everything I need to do. I know I need to ask for help”
This had me thinking about what it takes to be brave in business and how hard it is to be brave when we are exhausted.
There are 2 aspects to being brave – endurance and courage.
Endurance is perseverance, persistence and that ability to move on despite disappointment. When we are tired, when we feel exhausted it feel difficult to carry on.
Courage is having the courage to stand out, to try some thing new, to speak up, to call that client, to ask for the sale and to run a business of your own.
What can we do? I’m not going to talk here about getting more sleep, or taking better care of yourself – you already know all about this! I wrote about this subject in January. To read that one click here
What can we do to be more brave?
Pay more attention to when you are brave and pay more attention to times when you were brave!
What we pay attention to is what shapes our brain – whether we are exhausted or not!
Here’s how it works. You have a lot of influence over how your brain works – trust me.
An activity for you to try:
Right now, think about a time when you were brave. Maybe a little bit or maybe a lot!
Think about it …. remember it. How did you feel? What led you to be brave in that moment?
Develop the habit of noticing when you do some thing that is even a tiny bit brave – for you!!
Notice being brave and how you feel and what is it you actually do that is brave – for you!
It certainly is easier to be brave when we are more rested. The thing is that being rested, having enough sleep, not being exhausted is our preferred way to be; it’s not always possible.
Just last week, I was in a situation where I had not slept well, I was travelling with a client, and was feeling less than my normal 120%. A colleague wanted to give me some feedback about some thing that happened. As I listened I thought “I’m going to cry” and then I thought “no you’re not – be brave. Focus, totally focus on listening to what she is saying about the incident”
At the time I was in agony …. I listened and agreed with her position – because I did actually agree with what she said. Where I did not agree, I told her – calmly and logically.
Now I look back and think to myself that I am able to behave in a way that is professional and like an adult.
I can draw on this experience to remind me that even when I’m tired I can still be brave.
Focus on your strengths, focus on when things go well and find a pattern to daily remind yourself of the things that are going well – find your examples of being brave!! Every little example!!
There has never been a better time to start a business; to be in business.
Ingrid Thompson in one of Australia’s foremost authorities in the area of getting ready to start a small business. For the past ten years Ingrid has worked with hundreds of people to create, start and grow their own business.
She is the author of “So You Want to Start a Business.” This book completely changes the way people think about getting started in their own business. When she is not spending time with her family and her 4 cats she can be found surfing at Bondi or on her yoga or Pilates mat.
Ingrid can be contacted at ingrid@healthynumbers.com.au or on +61 0405 212 882. Call her anytime or contact her about a free Discovery Session.