It’s not very often you hear about an “overnight” success that doesn’t end up being an, easy come, easy go story. Rebecca Black is a recent example, although I think she is getting some commercial work and if that’s what she was trying to do as a young musician, well then, there ya go…

Most people who are blazing trails bring their own fire extinguisher, and will tell you that success most often comes right AFTER they have almost given up.  Some thought I was crazy to leave a good job making great money to start a business in the middle of a recession, heck, I still think I am wack and sometimes, even I want to give up and go back to what seems easier or more familiar (traditional media sales for over 15 years). That’s the tough part about following your dreams. It can look and feel like a nightmare some days, and other days you just don’t want to wake up, cause things are so great.

I never thought of myself as a patient or methodical person, how I became this way in the past three years, I don’t know. Maybe it is just growing up, getting wiser or learning from my mistakes? Got me. I ain’t saying I am perfect – am far from it! On a good day I might even forget to tie my shoes, if I didn’t remember that I was wearing flip-flops or slippers, and working from home.

Often times people want to tell you how to do things, their way. I am even guilty of preaching and pontificating, my way of thinking. However there isn’t really one way to do anything. There is just your way. What does that look like? It’s different for everyone. Some of us can problem solve, read people, create things, build things, work a room, budget, make proposals, publicize or organize with much ease. And often, being really good at something, makes you really hard on yourself on just about EVERYTHING else.
Does that fit for you?

When I look at the people I know who are really thriving in their personal and/or professional lives, they seem to have 3 big things in common: determination, consistency and  patience. I have never been married but that also sounds like a great outline for a marriage.  While running a successful business it can happen fast where you get off balance, and trip.  It is important to just acknowledge you slipped, get up and keep going gracefully (or not gracefully) you just gotta KEEP going!

You have to also remind yourself to “run your own race” and not try to judge your insides by other people’s outsides. Just because you are not where your best friend is financially, are single, or not where you want to be in general, remember the YET: Your Eligible Too. If want what others have, you have to be willing to do what they did. Not a carbon copy, but you have to suit up and show up for your own life and do the work, especially when it gets rough.

I don’t know if I wrote this cause I needed to hear it or that I wanted to remind people who are fighting the fight and trudging the road to happy destiny that it is always darkest before dawn.

I have learned to like that quiet peaceful time before the sunrises. I enjoy it more and can find strength in the solace.

What are you sweating these days?

*tiara tip to Sara Hawkins for Rebecca Black example*