Today is my birthday.
It’s that one day of the year when it’s all about celebrating me. But have you ever noticed how some people seem to dread their birthdays as they age? They keep it low-key, avoiding any fuss or attention. Yeah, I’m not one of those people.
As I get older, I’ve been thinking a lot about my life. Sometimes, when I look back, I hardly recognise the person I used to be!
Remember that post I wrote in January about being more myself in 2024? Well, let me tell you, pushing back against that negative voice inside has been really paying off.
Since starting my business, I have signed up for endless emails, newsletters and podcasts. If it’s about running a business, copywriting, mindset, productivity – you name it, I’ve probably signed up for it at one point.
I didn’t ease myself into self-employment gently. I hit the ground running, grabbing every opportunity with both hands and quite honestly, I hit a wall, well, more of a barbed wire fence.
After my brain practically exploded from trying to follow the often conflicting advice on being a freelance writer, another run-in with my old friend imposter syndrome and giving too much air time to my inner critic, I did the most productive thing I had done in a while. I started unsubscribing and took a step back to breathe.
Shortly after this decision, I made myself a cup of tea and plucked a book out of my TBR pile, a total mixed bag of fiction and nonfiction, and started reading a book called Take Your Shot by Robin Waite.
I had been putting off reading nonfiction, preferring to find my escape in a psychological thriller rather than be overloaded with any more “motivational tips” that just made me feel worse about myself. But I decided to at least give this book a go, fully expecting to give up after a couple of pages.
If you haven’t read it, Take Your Shot is a true story about a man trying to build a business as a golf instructor. He is barely making ends meet when a new client enters his life, who happens to be a business coach and helps him to make the necessary changes to achieve the business he always dreamed of.
I devoured this short book in less than 48 hours. Lightbulb moments galore, I found myself stopping multiple times to jot down notes and ideas. I felt so inspired! If only I could afford to hire a business coach of my own.
Instead, I decided it was time to think about what I wanted from my business rather than what I thought was expected of me. I was going to take the lessons I’d learned from the book and see how I could apply them to my own business,
Enter serendipity/fate/the universe, whatever you want to call it. The very next day, I had an email from someone who had made it through my unsubscription massacre. Laura Belgray. In Laura’s email, she shared that a successful friend of hers, Selina Soo, was offering free 20-minute business coaching calls.
Before my inner critic could intervene, I clicked the button and signed up for a call. The introvert inside of me, screaming, “You have to talk to a stranger!!!!” But I knew it was time to cut the crap and drag myself kicking and screaming out of my comfort zone.
I spent the next few days swatting these unhelpful thoughts away, muttering things like “Nothing changes if nothing changes” and “What’s the worst that could happen?” to myself in response. Thankfully, my husband assumed I was talking to the cat and the cat, as usual, ignored me as none of these sentences included the word “treat.”
Later that day, I had my call with the fabulous Lydia. My worries and concerns melted away as Lydia asked about my business and what I wanted to achieve. I was given some great advice on the obstacles I faced and even some helpful guidance and suggestions.
In those twenty minutes, it was like Lydia had unclogged my brain of all the clutter and debris. My mind felt clear for the first time in a long time, and I felt like I knew what I wanted, where I was going and how I was going to get there.
With my newfound clarity, it was time to invest in myself and my business.
So that is where I have been, squirrelled away working on some exciting updates and changes that I can’t wait to share with you over the coming weeks and months
As Spring starts to kick in and everything feels fresh and new, I can’t wait to see my business bloom just like the flowers outside.
Now, I’m off to enjoy my favourite, traditional east-end fayre of pie mash and liquor. If you know, you know. (I know I am supposed to write IYKYK, but I’m 43 today, for goodness sake! Let me do what I do best and write complete sentences.)