Have you ever wondered if there’s something wrong with you because you’ve been running your business for a year (or two, or four) and still don’t have consistent clients or $10,000 months? Especially when you see the success of someone else on Instagram, and you know that — even though you’ve been working like crazy — you’re just not there.
Most of us don’t become an overnight success.
Sure, it’s possible to have that kind of success quickly — anything is possible. But everyone that I’ve ever spoken to or worked with (mentors, coaches, peers, clients) has had a very different experience. I know zero people who’ve had ‘overnight’ success.
More often than not it actually went a bit more like this:
- He ran a separate business for two years, and then started an online coaching business, which was successful ‘quickly’ — because he already had that two years of experience.
- She is finally where she wants to be in her life and business…but it took her five years to be able to say that.
- He did make six figures in 12 months…but before those 12 months, he was struggling BIG time for months or even years.
I don’t say this to discourage you or make you feel like something isn’t possible for you. It’s always possible. But it takes time for us to learn who we are and what we want to do. It takes time for us to figure out how to run a business. It takes time for us to find our groove and go after ONLY the things we’re passionate about.
Mike Dooley says in ‘Leveraging the Universe’: “If I knew then that it would have taken me 10 years to be living my ideal lifestyle I NEVER would have started. But looking back, knowing it ONLY took 10 years…it was ABSOLUTELY worth it.”
Because here’s the thing: once you reach that version of success you have for yourself ($100,000 a year, $30K months, the beach house, or traveling all over the world), it’s not going to matter how long it took. It will have all been worth it.
But we get it: that wait can be incredibly painful. Just remember that the journey is half the fun — especially if you take care of yourself along the way. Here are few strategies to deal when it’s taking longer than you thought it would.
#1 Celebrate your wins
It doesn’t matter whether it’s five new people on your email list, finally recording that video, or signing three $20K clients. They’re all wins!
Take some time to celebrate (go out to dinner, have a glass of wine, take a bath) so that you can feel the feelings of accomplishment before you run off to work on your next goal. Taking the time to celebrate your wins will not only make you feel great, it also reinforces the actions you took to get there — and your subconscious will be more willing to help you with the next goal when the time comes.
Why not make a list of “celebration activities” and celebrate every time you achieve a win?
#2 Get support
We weren’t born knowing how to have a successful business, and most of us need support. There are several ways to get support, and it really is available at any budget.
Connect with a coach, a mentor, a mastermind group, an accountability partner, or even books or podcasts to keep your head in the game — and to remind yourself that you’re not alone. Many of us don’t have this support from our family and friends (because they have no idea what we’re doing), so it’s crucial to find it elsewhere.
Find the support that works for you.
#3 Take action every day
Even if it’s just one action step, try to do something every single day that moves you toward your goal.
Procrastinating is the absolute worst, isn’t it? It keeps you from putting yourself out there, getting feedback, and then correcting your course. We never get better at what we’re doing if we aren’t trying different strategies and then learning from those strategies. It’s better to take action, make a mistake, and course correct than to not move at all.
Make a commitment to take one inspired action — every day.
I hear you if you’re frustrated that you’re not further along than you thought you would be by now. We’ve all been there. Every successful person you know has been there.
Only around 1/3 of businesses make it to the 10-year mark. Is your business going to be one of those businesses?
If so, your job is to Keep. Moving. Forward.
Your other job is to develop the tenacity and grit needed to make sure you become a successful entrepreneur. It doesn’t have to take a long time, but it might not happen overnight. That’s okay.
The only way we fail is if we give up.
Lacey Nagar is a confidence and visibility coach, author, and mentor. She works with entrepreneurs who feel uncomfortable in the spotlight and helps them with both the confidence and the strategy needed to put themselves out there and make the impact they’re dying to make in the world. Learn her secrets to embracing the spotlight by downloading her guide The Introvert’s Guide to Embracing the Spotlight here. You can also connect with her on her website, Facebook or Instagram for a daily dose of confidence and motivation.
