What are you willing to do or give up to build your business?
I was talking to somebody recently and they said, “Carrie, have you always been so driven? Have you always had this work ethic?” I had to really think about that.
I have to say my dad had an amazing work ethic and my mom taught us that if you’re going to do it halfway, you’ll end up having to do it again…so just do it right the first time. We all know that the faster you do it (correctly) and get it over with, the sooner you can get to the fun stuff. That’s true even as a grown up. Shhhh, don’t tell mom she was right. She always says she knows best.
Let’s take a look around at business owners and life builders that you consider a ‘success’ – the reason why they have the results they have is because they’re simply willing to do what others are not willing to do.
One of my role models early in my business career, Pamela Waldrop Shaw from Bowling Green, Kentucky, said, “You need to be willing to do what others are not so that you will have a life that others will never have.” She also said, “Are you willing to work harder than you’ve ever worked in your life for two years of concentrated intense relentless action so that you never have to work quite that hard again in your life?”
Well, I don’t know about you…I can do anything for two years. My answer was a resounding, “Yes!”
What I’ve found is when I’ve poured myself into two years of intense effort and then I loved the results, I also loved the momentum, changed my direction a tad and then poured two years into something else, then two years into something else. We grow. We evolve. We see results and it pushes us forward into new seasons of life and business.
It’s addictive really. I still had time for my family, I still had time to play, still time to pursue things I’m passionate about, but I was willing to do what others were not. Are you?
Now, what are some of the things I’m willing to do? I gave up TV about 11 years ago and have never looked back. I went cold turkey for about 9 years. Now I watch ‘The Voice’ with my performer daughter and Blue Bloods with my dad & my college girl (we text each other during the show.)
Giving up TV is something I was willing to do…even if I ‘deserve’ to unplug and unwind and relax and be entertained. A few other things…
- I’m willing to get up early.
- I’m willing to work late.
- I’m willing to do without a little sleep if I need to.
- I’m willing to think outside the box.
- I’m willing to have my feelings hurt. A lot.
- I’m willing to learn new skill sets, new technologies, new software, and new processes.
- I’m willing to forsake new shoes or (insert purchase here) for a new software, system or help in my business.
- I’m willing to make some sacrifices financially if I need to
This is not a new pattern in my life.
==> When I was getting ready to go to college, I worked two jobs that summer while my friends were playing. I still had time to see my friends and family, while I was saving for college expenses.
==> I worked all the way through college and took 27 credit hours my last semester and 18 hours my last summer session. (I was younger then, haha)
==> As a newlywed, I took a job for 80 hours a week for several months so that we could pay off our student loans. It was brutal, but so worth it to start life debt free! I bought my first home at 21!
So, even when I was young, I was willing to do what some others weren’t so I could have different results.
My friend, author Frank McKinney says, ‘to live an extraordinary life, you must resist the ordinary.’ (WOW)
So, what are you willing to do?
Olympians get up and train in the dark before school. They often give up parties with their friends, social activities, relationships, fun stuff. Maybe they don’t have any time on Facebook, maybe they don’t have time to listen to their iPod, they are busy training for their dreams.
What are you willing to do?
Are you willing to make the sacrifice for your dreams? If you’re not, don’t blame the course you took, the age of your kids, the market, your coach or all this ‘new technology.’
You need to ‘cowboy up’ and say, “It’s because I am not willing to give this the attention it deserves. I am not willing to chalk up my hands and get back on the beam and get to work. I’m just not willing.”
And honestly… that is OKAY…but realize there is no one to blame, you’re just not willing perhaps.
I am willing to be driven. I am willing to achieve some very big things and I still have some very big things I want to achieve. I think you can too, but you just have to resolve that one question, What are you willing to do?
PS Before you blast me about ‘all work no play makes Carrie very dull’ – let me assure you that short term sacrifice equals long term gain and I’ve lived a life that I’m very proud of. I have a 24 year marriage, gorgeous children (4), incredible trips & experiences and I don’t regret one single choice I’ve made in those short bursts of sacrifice, investment and attention.
It’s a big question. Are you ready to ‘give up?’
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