Yesterday I took my 15 month old to my favorite local coffee shop near where we live called Beans & Butter. We come here often as it’s very close to a library and an awesome park and, let’s be real, I’m obsessed with local coffee shops and their pastries. They’ve just recently opened and my husband and I have had the distinct pleasure of getting to know the owners quite well, particularly Stacy.
Stacy and Michael are the owners and Stacy aside from making a mean matcha tea latte, is also one of the brightest and sweetest souls I’ve ever met. She’s just amazing with my son, and no matter what is going on in her day, she’s always ready and willing to have an awesome chat and offer some smiles of warm connection.
Needless to say, I’m a huge Stacy fan.
Yesterday, we got talking about business. Because they are such a new business, they are going through their usual entrepreneurial growing pains. No matter who you are, or what kind of business you run, if you’re in that first year to three year space, you probably know exactly what I’m talking about.
I believe Elon Musk said it best when he said, “Becoming an entrepreneur is like eating glass and staring into the abyss of death.” Touche, Elon. Touche. Nothing brings up more insecurity, doubt, despair, or the burning desire to quit than deciding you are going to start your own business. It’s almost as if by making that claim, you set EVERYTHING into motion in the Universe that could possibly make you fail.
The truth is, however, quite the opposite about the Universe. When you decide to start your own business, you put a giant magnifying glass over your behaviors, thoughts, and beliefs. You were already that way, and already doing those things, you just did not realize how pervasive they were. But now, through the glass of your business, everything is magnified like WHOA. This is actually the greatest gift, ever, if you know how to recognize it as such.
Entrepreneurship is the BEST personal development course I’ve ever taken. It’s made me a distinctly better person in EVERY area of my life because instead of backing down from the harrowing reality of my shortcomings, I’ve stood in the center of the storm and decided I would fucking learn how to sail – no matter what.
Yesterday, Stacy quoted something that really has had my head and heart turning all day and night, “Don’t dig up in doubt, what you planted in faith.” Now if that doesn’t dig its roots into your chest, nothing will. Starting your own business is a wild act of faith. Nothing promises you success. Nothing promises you that “it’ll work”, but that is NOT why you do it. You do it because you BELIEVE deep down that you were made for more. You do it because there is this nagging, aching feeling in your soul that you CAN have/do/be more. You strike out in SHEER faith and every learning step is an act of trust and close communication with Source.
April will make a solid year of my newest business. It is the fourth business I’ve brought to reality in the 29 years I’ve been alive. Most of them have been total flops and that is okay. Not everything you plant will take. But, at least one thing will. At least one crop WILL take. And when it does, it will grow, and grow, and grow and eventually surprise the ever living shit out of you if you don’t first destroy the plant ground by doubt-digging your way out of success.
No one promised entrepreneurship would be a seamless process, we were just promised that if we could see it through, it would be worth it. And it is, my friends. It is.
My business is still quite tender and I will need another couple of years under my belt to REALLY feel those sea-legs, but one thing I’ve decidedly learned in this past year is NOT to dig up in doubt, what I planted in faith. Let the Universe guide you. Let it support you. Spend time in the quiet of meditation and LISTEN for your next step. If you make a mistake, don’t cower. It’s okay. We all do. Be PROUD of the fact that you even had the vagina to start a business – so many people NEVER EVEN GO THERE.
If you’re reading this and want to start something or join something but don’t know EXACTLY what, or maybe you already have but it’s not quite going as you’d wish. CONTACT ME HERE and let’s figure out what we can do to get you on the right path. <3
Sincerely,
Shakti