July 4th is right around the corner and just as our forefathers before us got fed up with the status quot and declared their independence (some easier than others), so is the time for you to declare your own independence. Just as Abraham Lincoln referenced the declaration of independence in his Gettysburg Address, you should declare your legacy to be one of entrepreneurial independence. That independence starts with doing something different to get a different result. Stop that vicious cycle of feeling stuck in the mud, like your spinning your wheels or worse… paralyzed with fear. Choose today as your day of independence. According to Psychology Today, there are 5 stages to changing behavior so get started with your own change (right after you finish reading this post, of course). In my podcast this week (Friday), I’m talking about each step in this process so be sure to listen in.
Next, to declare today your independence day, you need to rely on your strengths, as well as recognize and work on getting better at your weaknesses. This is true even if that means recognizing them and then working hard to build a team that can help you by using their own strengths to fill in the gap for your weakness. The point in declaring your independence is to shed that negative or complacent attitude and begin behaviors that facilitate GROWTH. Whether that growth is in business or personal, standing on your own (at least when it comes to your attitude to do and be better) requires knowing and believing in yourself. Operating within your strengths and recognizing areas of weakness give you the confidence needed to branch out and take steps you wouldn’t have considered before.
That brings me to the next area that will help you declare your independence today. Take the risk! If you’re like me, the risk won’t be too risky at first, but the more you begin to trust your knowledge, the riskier you can be. Sometimes it’s good to feel those butterflies before you make decisions. It doesn’t have to mean something is wrong, it could mean you’re stepping out on faith and believing in the outcome even though you can’t see what the end will bring. When I think of a calculated risk, I think about the work I’ve done in preparation for what’s to come and all the different outcomes (that I can think of, of course) and what they mean for me. As long as I am okay with them, I am willing to take the risk.
Finally, to declare your independence today, you have to actively participate in your business. Get down and dirty with decision making, marketing, analytics, and research. Social media can be scheduled, but consumers like relevant content. You have to roll up your sleeves, research and develop answers to the most asked questions and most importantly….BE PATIENT! Success doesn’t come overnight (for the majority of us anyway).
For more on my take on the 5 stages of behavioral change, listen to this PODCAST. You’ll find a link to my
30 Day Behavioral Change Challenge there too!
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