20 Reasons to be an Entrpreneur

Why live a life full of mediocrity, frustration, and boredom when you can have the complete opposite?
I've had numerous conversations with friends and coworkers about the scariness of building your own business and reasons someone would shy away from it.
There's uncertainty, risks, and challenges and most people hate those things. I get it. Something so "scary" looks unappealing. I get that too. But have you ever taken a step back to look at all the scary things involved in maintaining a job you hate only for security? Have you taken the time to think about all the things that are not an option when you choose the safe, expected route?

In case you haven't,

Here are the many reasons BIG and SMALL (but even the small things are big) to be an entrepreneur:

1. To not have to clock in and clock out
2. To know that the effort you put in will produce what you will get back in return
3. To not have another adult tell youto put away your phone as if you're twelve
4. To not have to do something and not understand why you're doing it
5. To never have to hear about people complaining about their jobs everyday
6. To do something you enjoy
7. To be great at what youdo
8. To never have to decide if you should take off Christmas or Thanksgiving ever again
9. To be proud of what you do
10. To inspire others to go after what they love to do
11. To live a fulfillinglife
12. To have financial freedom
13. To use your creative abilities to make money (because we are all creative beings)
14. Never have to eat lunch with people you don't like but tolerate
15. To decide where you make money and when you make it
16. To have a job filled with adventure and novelty
17. To never have to dread Mondays ever again
18. To determine what success means for you
19.The freedom of not having someone determine what you'll be doing for 10 hours of your day for the next 30 years of your life
20. To mean it when you respond "You can be anything you want to be" when your child talks about their hopes and dreams

These are a few of the many reasons to be in entrepreneur in my book. I understand everyone isn't meant to be an entrepreneur, but neither is living a life of suffering. No one is built for that. I see so much dissatisfaction in the eyes of people young and old all because they've simply given up hope. Given up hope that their job will get better, that the possibility of something greater is too far to reach. It's frightening how a job can suck the life and optimism out of you. It's crazy how a job can make you feel like this is the best you can do without even realizing you feel that way until it's 5 years later, and you don't know why you've stayed so long.

There's no reason not to pursue what brings you joy. Take whatever you're passion about and profit from it. There's no reason you can't do what you love. There's no reason other than if you believe you can't.  

Feel Free,

Mel

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How I Let Reaching a Goal Take Over My Life

When I had my son IV, I decided I would breastfeed him until he was old enough to drink regular milk. I figured it would be 4 months..6 months tops. On our first visit to the pediatrician, to my surprise it was much longer than that. Children aren't allowed to drink cow's milk until their first birthday.  I was floored, but I was also committed. I was committed to providing IV with all the nutrients he needs to have the best health possible, and breastfeeding would accomplish that.
My Purpose: A healthy baby.
My Goal: Breastfeed my baby for his first year of life.

USE ALL YOUR RESOURCES TO REACH YOUR GOAL

At 3 months I was doing great. At 6 Months I was struggling with my supply. Between 6 and 9 months I tried all the tips to increase my milk supply: fernugreek, blessed thistle, multiple lactation teas, ginger, oatmeal, eating more, drinking more, basil oil, power pumping. I did it all. But as soon as my supply would increase, it would decrease with one missed pump. It was so finicky. It drove me nuts.

I was slowly losing my mind but didn't want to admit it.

Sometimes you need more than what's in your backpocket to reach your goal. Take advantage of all that's available to you.

WHEN YOUR GOAL STARTS TO FEEL OUT OF REACH

At 9 months I knew that making it to 12 months would be a miracle. With the stress of work, the busyness of the holidays, preparing for my business, I started to lose it.  

I was pumping my life away.

I would be late going places because I needed to stop home first to pump. I was getting little to no sleep because no matter how late it was, the last thing I needed to do before bed was pump, and the first thing I had to do before work was pump. I was drained and it showed. I knew that if something didn't give soon I was going to lose it.

The circumstances of life can get in the way towards reaching your goal. No matter how much effort you put towards something, sometimes it doesn't pan out the way you hope. Don't be afraid to adjust your goal, seek new paths.

WHEN YOU LOSE SIGHT OF YOUR PURPOSE 

Reluctantly, I started looking up organic formulas and found one I really liked but couldn't bring myself to order it. I told friends and family about it as if I was waiting for them to ask why or maybe I needed convincing. Surprisingly, everyone understood even without the drawn out explanation. Even IV's father's response was simply, "Okay." No one was making a big deal about it other than me. Why?

One word: failure. I felt like a complete failure for not making it to 12 months.

I completely disregarded the fact that he's been having breast milk for the past 10 months and he's now as round as a rollypolly. I disregarded the factthat in order for me to be the best mom that I can be, I needed to be well rested, full of energy, stress-free and pumping was hindering that. I ignored that fact that I went through not one but two breast pumps. The second one broke on me and it now takes me double the time to pump, because I can only pump one breast at a time. I disregarded the fact I was doing the best I could.

You are the only one who truly knows if you've done your best, and usually when you have, those around you can tell. When we are committed to something we often feel that if we change courses or our minds, we have done something wrong in some way. When the truth is, life is forever changing. It's important to change along with it in order to enjoy it as much as you can. There's nothing wrong with making adjustments. You can only fight the tide for so long until it consumes you. Lettinggo of pride and stubborness is part of this process. Give yourself permission to allow your needs and wants to change.

“Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.”

— Michael McGriffy, M.D.

BE FLEXIBLE IN ORDER TO REACH YOUR GOAL

All that mattered to me was my child being fully breastfed for the first year of life. That's it, nothing more nothing less. And when the road got tough, I was willing to sacrafice any and everything-- even my mental health in order to reach my goal. At this point, the goal was greater than the purpose.

When you have a goal it is imperative to completey understand your purpose. Your purpose will not only motivate you when times get hard, it will inform you of when you've reached your goal. The moment your purpose is forgotten, your ambission is now in the driver seat. And your ambission doesn't care about friends, family, health, or having a good time. All it cares about is getting to the goal by any means necessary. I forgot my purpose was to have a healthy baby, because I was so fixated on breastfeeding for 12 months. Not only is my child healthy, the formula I chose would also provide him the nurishment he needs to thrive. I allowed my purpose to take a backseat, while my ambission drove me crazy.

Don't allow your dreams and goals to hold you hostage. The further you go down a path the clearer you become about what it is you need. Things will come up that you had no way of knowing before. Be patient with yourself, you may be surprised that the new goal in mind was greater than the first.

Feel Free,
Mel

**Did you enjoy this post? Did you learn something? If so, share, like or comment below. What goals have you allowed to take over your life? **

5 Ways to Acknowledge Your Greatness

It's not uncommon for women to dumb down their talents or accomplishments. There are many reasons for this.

REASONS WOMEN DUMB DOWN THEIR GREATNESS

1. MEN- She doesn't want to threaten a man's ego and make him feel less great, due to being so incredible. It's silly, but they say stroking a man's ego is how you win him over. And the moment that ego is threatened, the man he thought he was no longer exists.  A man needs rose colored glasses to feel in control. A woman kindly places a pair on his face when she makes herself smaller than what she is.

2. LIKABILITY- Women LOOOVE being loved and adored. And no one will adore you if they're intimidated by you. The funny part is many strong and ambitious women will say 'I don't care what people think of me.' But the moment someone asks you, 'What's new? What you been up to?!' Instead of talking about how you've finally completed your book, or you started a spin class to kick start your new fitness goals, you say 'Same ole, same ole.' You're gently telling yourself don't share your happiness, don't acknowledge what excites you, because it may turn people off.

3. WORRIED NO ONE ELSE WILL THINK IT'S GREAT-   Just because you think it's great doesn't mean it's actually great. In order for something to be considered great it must be high on the greatness scale. It's unclear what dignifies greatness on this scale. You just know there is a scale.. somewhere and your accomplishment probably doesn't make the cut.

“Greatness does not approach him who is forever looking down”

— Hitopadesa

I met a group of women recently at an event, you could call it a sister circle. All these women, if you asked them what they did they would passively say 'I work at Georgia Tech, I'm in HR, I do marketing.'  But when explored a little deeper, one was in the middle of publishing her second book. The other had a jewelry line. The other directs plays. Another is not only an interior decorator, but her house has been photographed for the AJC Newspaper not once but TWICE! I was in the midst of greatness and would've never known. These group of women were not only humble, but striving to reach different heights in their personal and professional lives. I was in awe of their accomplishments and wondered if they knew how great they really were.

I realized, I don't take the time to share my own greatness with strangers, friends, even those I love. I made a decision to no longer dumb down my greatness. Not by being boastful, arrogant, or vain but by reassuring myself of my vision, reminding myself of how I persevere through fear and challenges to get what I want, by shining a light on my uniqueness and not being afraid to stand in that light. As my manager would say, "By not allowing anyone to dull my sparkle."

5 WAYS TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR GREATNESS AND NOT DIMINISH IT

1. SHAMELESSLY SHARE WHAT YOU'RE WORKING ON WITH ANY AND EVERYBODY: Sometimes we don't want to share with others our hobbies or dreams that we want to become professions one day, because it's not real yet. It becomes real when you start acting like it's real. Share your most recent high with people you meet. You'd be surprised how that connection could get you closer to where you're headed or how their acknowledgment encourages you to keep going.

2. KEEP A LIST OF ACTIONS YOU'RE PROUD OF: It is easy to forget how wonderful of a month you had  when you're hit with unexpected challenges the following month. Your list of accomplishments is the perfect way to bring yourself back up when you want to hop on the pity train. Just watch that train pass on by. 

3. PUT YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS ON YOUR RESUME: There's absolutely nothing wrong with stating you're a self-published author or a beauty pageant winner. This shows you are a well rounded, interesting individual. If you're willing to work hard for the things you want then you have the ability to work hard for the company as well.

4. SIMPLY SAY THANK YOU: When someone takes the time to acknowledge your greatness, don't foul it up with what you could've done better and how you should've done this or that. Stop that. It's not about perfection. It's about following your passion, trying something different, finding your way. Them acknowledging you is a big way of saying "I see you and I'm proud of you."

5. ACKNOWLEDGE THE GREATNESS IN OTHERS: It is impossible to see the greatness in others without seeing that same greatness in yourself. When others are doing well stepping into their truth and finding their voice, they need the support of someone else who shares their story. Someone else who is on their own journey to say: Good Job, Keep Going, I Believe in You.

Every month on the 19th I will acknowledge my own greatness by sharing the things I'm proud of myself. Some will be small, others will be big, but they all will be awesome to me because of the effort I put in to make it happen.

JANUARY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Did a 10 day Periscope Series on Organization
Still Breastfeeding at almost 10 months
Hired a speaking coach
Redid my website
Joined NAPO (National Assoc for Professional Organizers) national and local
Started recording videos for my vlog

I hope to encourage other women to shamelessly do the same. Like the saying goes, 'You can't be happy for someone else when you're not happy with yourself.' Once we are able to acknowledge our greatness within, we can then acknowledge that in others. Countless women are doing extraordinary things, but we never take the time to notice. Unfortunately, it's hidden behind their job title, their modesty, their role as a wife or mother.  Ditch what's dull, share what's great.

Don't let anyone dull your shine. Share in the comments below some greatness you're proud of. Allow us to congratulate you and encourage you.

Feel free, 
Mel