Entrepreneurship is the journey of constantly learning how to get over the next hurdle. I could have used the term rollercoaster or mountain. However, I was intentional about the term hurdle because, by definition, the term hurdle means: a race in which contestants must leap over several such barriers placed at specific intervals around the track. In other words, hurdles are part of the process, come in every season, and we must create and train ourselves on how to get over them. And if you know like I know, training means practice, and practice is simply a habit you replicate over and over until it becomes your normal.
Let's dissect the definition of hurdle and compare it to entrepreneurship. First up…" race," the truth is you are running a race, and here's the most important part…you are in a race only with yourself! When we think of a race, we tend to think of our competitors and trying to outrun them to "win." While I agree with being aware of your competition, I do NOT advocate, nor teach that you should focus on or worry about what your competition is doing. Giving too much energy to your competition sends you down the slippery slope of comparison and that's a game you will NEVER win. This is why you must learn to "run your race." Be clear on who you are, what you bring to the world, and the impact you desire to have.
Moving on, one of my favorite words…"leap." As a former dancer, I can tell you firsthand that perfecting the skill of leaping is not about getting in the air; that's the easy step. The hardest part of leaping is landing without sounding like an elephant and without twisting an ankle. But I said "skill," because skill can be taught. A skill has a technique and roadmap that can be followed, taught, and performed. So then if leaping is a simple skill, why can't everyone do it? Truth: to become great at leaping, you have to first commit to and become very comfortable with falling. YIKES! You can see how this applies to the world of entrepreneurship? Most people have ideas, desires, and even dream of starting their business…but instead of leaping, they become paralyzed by the fear of failure and end up doing nothing.
Next up…the barriers, otherwise known as the hurdle itself. I just told you most people don't leap for fear of failure. So you can only imagine the number who give up as soon as an obstacle gets in their way. I'll cut through the fluff and give you the facts: obstacles are coming, obstacles are scary, and obstacles are hard. The obstacles are just a test. A test to see if you will push past your insecurities. A test to see if you can shift your perspective. A test to see if you will do the work when you cannot see the reward.
Lastly, these obstacles and/or hurdles are coming EVERY season. This means that you will not reach a level in the journey where you won't have hurdles. Hurdles don't disappear as you elevate. Nope, hurdles keep getting bigger and more complicated the further you go. Here's the good news…in the beginning, you will find yourself crawling over, scaling, and even going under your hurdles to make it to the next stage. Yet, the more you run your race, the stronger, smarter, faster, and more effective you become. This is the direct result of developing and practicing habits that move you forward and train you for leaping over the hurdles along your path. And while there are a ton of habits you can start to develop. I only focus on three a day to keep my sanity. I'll share them with you below.
Habits to Develop:
1. Mindset:
I have a daily ritual for setting my mind for the day. I wake up early, pray, and read from a book EVERY day. No matter how busy I am, I do NOT skip the step of preparing my mind for the day ahead. Giving myself time to be still, center my spirit, and feed my mind is HOW I stay in alignment.
2. Planning:
I plan my quarters, months, weeks, and days based on MY priorities. Did you notice I said, MY priorities, not what other people need from me, but what I need to do to run my household and business and move closer to my goals?
3. Doing:
I execute the plan. I don’t waste time overthinking and indecisiveness. Instead, I've become okay with knowing I may make several mistakes, but the mistake always leads me to a lesson on how to do it better.
This race of entrepreneurship is not a sprint. It's not about being the fastest. It is about standing back, seeing the track, noticing where the hurdles are displayed, and preparing and committing to getting over them by any means necessary. And the best way to transform those hurdles/obstacles into opportunities/solutions is to develop daily, weekly, and monthly habits that strengthen you and your business.
WHO AM I?
I’m Kandis Troutman, The Creative Architect. I'm a mother, teacher, and spiritual seeker focused on purpose walking, and serving others. I help women activate their God-given power so they can transform their purpose into a prosperous business.
Thanks for reading my post. I try to publish new posts weekly, but I believe in leaving room for God, which means there are no guarantees. But check in often and let me know what content awakens your spirit and I’ll be more than happy to share my experiences.
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