My 4 Secrets for Success Without Sacrifice

This month is all about mental health awareness and I saved the best for last. I want to talk about taking care of you.

​Business ownership is like having a baby or buying an estate. From the outside looking in, the choice seems idyllic. You envision yourself happy, enjoying life, and carefree. It's a pinnacle moment that signals your arrival at a new level of life success.

What you fail to ponder and appreciate is the depth and breadth of the commitment you've just made. From this moment forward, your life includes responsibilities and obligations that you do not have the option to ignore. 

I get you. Being at the top is supposed to be fun and rewarding. It's supposed to fuel pleasure, not pain. You want to hold onto the confidence and satisfaction bump you felt at the start. Feeling tired, overwhelmed, and stressed-out is not the future you were seeking. 

I often meet business owners when they are at their breaking point. Working harder isn't getting the results they need. And, maintaining their extraordinary effort isn't sustainable. The chaos of their business dictates their mental health. 

That's why this week, I'm sharing my 4 secrets for business ownership success without sacrificing your mental health and happiness. 

Are you constantly comparing yourself to others around you? 

Are you busy doing things that others tell you are critical, even though you don't know how they fit into your business strategy?

You have permission to stop.
You have permission to do less, be less, have less. 
The opposite of more is enough. And you get to define what is enough for you.

More, bigger, better is an unhappiness trap if it causes you to sacrifice the things that matter most to you.  

BETTER MENTAL HEALTH STEP 1 
Know yourself and stay true to yourself regardless of what everyone else around you is doing.

Are you always playing it safe, afraid to make a mistake?

Are you copying others, always trying to blend in?

Peter Block teaches that when you choose safety and security, you give up your power. Fear is a liar that holds us back and keeps us stuck in unhealthy patterns. 

You can't attract the right customers and employees if they can't see you.

And, it's not possible to grow to your fullest potential without taking risks.

BETTER MENTAL HEALTH STEP 2 
Accept setbacks as part of your growth and trust in your ability to fail-up;
100% success means you're playing it safe.

Do you hold yourself to an unrealistic standard?

Have you designed your life so that you have to be all things to all people all the time? 

It's okay to say, "No."
It's okay to delegate to other people.
It's okay to step back so that others have room to step up.

BETTER MENTAL HEALTH STEP 3
Let go of perfect.

If you've put yourself at the center of everything in your business, I can 100% guarantee that at some point, you will become the weakest link. 

Tapping into additional resources is essential for growth. Sometimes those are partners for services such as bookkeeping or marketing, while other times, it is the addition of employees and leaders.

Asking for help means inviting others to become fully contributing members of your team. It requires you to let go of control, extend trust, and create new ways of working together.

BETTER MENTAL HEALTH STEP 4
Invite others who share your purpose, passion, and commitment to help you.

​It is nearly impossible to provide for the mental health of your employees if you are not setting the example by taking care of your own mental health. I hope this gives you a helpful blueprint.