Eight Lessons My Business Taught Me in 2008

T. Harv Eker says the three most dangerous words in the English language are "I know that." I'm looking at these 8 lessons, the initial result of my reflection over the past year, and I'm thinking, "But I already knew this!"  Then I remember something else Harv said: "If you're not doing something... You must not know it!" Sometimes we have to experience something to really "know" it.  While book learning is great, the lessons from our own lives are the ones we remember. These are eight I shall not forget: 1. Isolation is Not Fertile Ground. I had heard about "the isolation of the entrepreneur," but I did not fully experience it until this year.  I've been self-employed for 14 years, formerly in the restaurant and real estate businesses, but was oftentimes surrounded by employees, colleagues and customers. In 2007, I weaned myself off of my habit of selling houses and began my "realtor recovery."  At the same time, I moved from Seattle to a little town of 2,000 people 30-some miles east of Seattle.  While I was more than ready to leave real estate, and excited to pursue coaching and music more full-time, I didn't fully anticipate the impact of transitioning from a social, collaborative city office to working in the country.  At home.  Alone. The rolling hills, walks in the woods, and whinnying horses were soul-soothing at first, and a welcome change of pace.  But by the time 2008 hit, the isolation grew difficult to deal with.  I found myself spending too much time in the recesses of my mind, and not enough in the company of friends and colleagues.  I lost focus and momentum. Although I progressed on my music cd, my coaching and workshop business stalled.  Ironically, I had left real estate so that I could expand this business, but it was not expanding. By springtime, tasks such as "getting my website done" had become excuses to beat myself up rather than reasons to get up in the morning.  I seemed busy all the time, but I was very inefficient, often distracting myself with things other than work.  I started to wonder if I had made a mistake. 2. Get Away, Get Perspective About that time an opportunity came up for me to staff a women's retreat in Sedona, AZ with some dear friends.  Hiking, soul-searching, artwork, singing, dancing, girlfriends, vegetarian food... ahh!  The time away hit the spot, and I found myself nurtured by the other women and the natural beauty of the retreat center. There's nothing like a change in routine to interrupt a pattern that's not working and gain some perspective.  I take a reflection and goal setting retreat at the end of each year - typically the best three days of my year - but this year, I found I needed several retreats! While in AZ, I looked at what normally sustained me and moved me forward: a balance of support, learning, time to creatively work "on" my business as well as "in" my business, and time to nurture myself.  But my balance had tipped.  My self-care routines had broken down.  I had become isolated, and worse, discouraged.  It was time for some changes. 3. Take Care of the Boss When I worked for too many days in a row as a realtor, I used to joke about my "mean boss."  (Of course, I was my own boss.)  But burn-out is no laughing matter. There is no substitution for self care. I started separating work from non-work times, which always makes both more effective for me.  I made sure I got out and did something "fun" at least once a week.  (Otherwise, the days just become one big blur.) I started hiking again.  I learned to sail.  I read for fun.  I went to bed earlier. I watched my energy and chose not to spend time with people who left me drained.  I spent more time with people who left me inspired and powerful. 4. Build a Support System. I joined friends who were also coaches and workshop leaders in a coaching and masterminding group by phone.  This was a tremendous support to my business and kept me on-task with goals. I stopped whining about my unfinished website and produced not one but two websites using simple templates.  I got the music equipment I needed to be able to "take my show on the road" and scheduled three cd release concerts by summer. Still, I was missing regular face-to-face contact, which was impractical in our long-distance coaches group.  And I knew less than half a dozen people within 10 miles of my new home! So... I joined a weekly business networking group I had heard about from friends. Meeting weekly with other business owners was a synergistic kick in the pants.  I started scheduling workshops, printed new cards, and once again gained momentum in my workshop and coaching business. 5. Shift from "Hobbyist" to Business Owner Yes, I found support, connections, and referrals in my weekly networking group, but that wasn't the only value I discovered in it.  It may sound silly, but the simple exercise of introducing myself each week as "Kate Phillips with Total Wealth Coaching" was exactly what I needed. I needed an "identity shift." I had noticed that when people asked me what I did, I paused.  Then I might find myself saying, "Well, I was a realtor for 8 years, but now I'm doing..." The truth was, I had been a realtor for so long, I hadn't fully absorbed my new "identities" as a coach and musician.  I wasn't congruent within myself.  Sure, I had written music and led workshops for years, but they hadn't been my "business."  And I was still thinking of them - and treating them - like hobbies. 6. Plant More Seeds. Once I understood the value in networking, I started networking like a maniac.  I started using social media.  I found friends on Facebook.  I found fans on MySpace.  I found Linked In connections with old colleagues. Then I joined Biznik and a women's business network the same week.  What tremendous communities these were - with infinite opportunities for face-to-face contact as well as online networking!  I started my "dream support group" of local coaches.  (The Coach's Cooperative, we meet monthly through Biznik). Soon I had 100 new friends and acquaintances, and seemingly endless opportunities for mutual support, brainstorming, masterminding, and collaboration.  I was in solopreneur heaven! 7. Use the Power of the Pen (or keyboard!) By the end of August, I was blogging and writing articles for Biznik.  I met more new people, expanding my network further.  One blogger invited me to write a guest post; another featured me in their blog. Even more importantly, I started to find my voice.  (Or voices... perhaps I have multiple personalities!)  It had been hard to express myself in a vacuum, and difficult to grow my businesses without feedback and interaction. Writing also helped me be a better speaker!  When I've taken the time to articulate ideas in writing, I find it easier to express myself verbally.  Writing blogs, articles, and e-Newsletters continues to develop me in every way.  8. Pruning my Network, Focusing my Energy By early November, the pendulum had swung to the other side.  I was the opposite of isolated - I was overwhelmed!  I was meeting for classes, events and networking coffee dates sometimes two or three times a day.  I went to every Biznik event that looked interesting or fun.  Whee!  If connections, networking, and relationships are good, then more must be better, right? Wrong.  While my extrovert side was now well-fed, my inner introvert was exhausted.  I was meeting people faster than I could follow up with them, making my networking ineffective.  I could hardly squeeze in coaching clients, much less find the time and inspiration to write songs and articles and take daily walks.  I was losing focus again, and spreading myself too thin.  I looked at all my social media contacts and "friends" and had no idea who some of them even were. Again, time for some perspective.  WHY was I doing each activity?  Which networks were creating prospects, customers, clients, or quality connections with other business owners?  Which were simply time-consuming entertainment?  Which activities and networks moved my business forward, and which should be personal activities?  Which were a good value?  Which drained my cashflow? What did my business need next, and what was the best way to accomplish it? I've made changes, and will continue to make them.  I'm being more intentional with my time.  I'm reading several key books to give me perspective and new ideas.  (I can't wait for 2009!)  Self-care went back on my priority list.  (It should never fall off that list, but occasionally it does.) And yes, it's time for another "perspective retreat."  I'll get away for it soon, but reflecting on the year while snowed in is a nice start! What are your reflections, gifts, challenges and lessons of 2008? 2008-12-31T07:33:42Z

2008-12-31T15:46:25Z

-12.3204

1659 2660

true

16860

eight-lessons-my-business-taught-me-in-2008

2008-12-31T15:46:17Z

Learning from mistakes: eight things I thought I knew. Journey with me to overcome isolation, get perspective, take care of "the boss", build a support system, shift identity, express yourself, plant seeds, and prune what grows.

Eight Lessons My Business Taught Me in 2008

2009-03-06T08:31:11Z