Approximately nine years ago, I ventured out into the world of entrepreneurship. It was entirely new for me because I had always been a 9 to 5 worker. I started part-time and then transitioned to full-time. I had a utopist view of what entrepreneurship entailed and was quickly jerked into reality within a few short months of getting started.
Several persons are on a similar journey, and we all want to know what tips and tricks people who succeeded used to get where they are now. There is a wealth of information, but it requires so much filtering. In my quest, when taking life tips, I have found that one size does not fit all.
I have listened to tons of tapes, watched videos, and read books, and I realized that you have to find what works for you and be consistent. This technique applies to pretty much everything in life. Of course, there will be cases where you can tweak and make a few changes, but it’s mainly finding a groove and working that groove.
The Importance of Sleep
In my quest, I found that sleep was essential. Some people can thrive on 3 to 6 hours of sleep nightly. That’s not me. I need 5 to 8 hours of sleep to function the next day. Three to six hours occur when I have a pressing deadline or maybe a child has a bad night’s rest. If I consistently attempt 3 to 6 hours nightly, my mood is terrible, my response time to simple requests is in hyper slow motion, my immune system weakens, and I am falling all over myself the next day because I am sleepy. This may not be the case for you but remember, one size does not fit all.
The Importance of Exercise
Secondly, I have to exercise at least five times a week or have low energy, and my attention span is zero. One time, a friend of mine advised that there is little or no time for long nights of resting or exercise when building wealth or a business. That way worked for him, but it does not work for me. Exercising is like adding years to your life. I think the thing to do would be to exercise that way when you are successful, you are around long enough to enjoy the fruits of your labour.
Know When To Take A Break
Next, I found that the most common idea was never to give up. I wholeheartedly agree with this statement, but I would include taking a break. The entrepreneurship road is long and winding, and things change. If you are sure you are on your path, keep going but take a minute now and then to reset. I remember drowning in postpartum anxiety and being told I should keep pushing through. Listen! If you are struggling, step away, reassess, and decide your next step. Imagine doing the same thing for 40 years, all in the name of never giving up? Imagine never stopping to think and strategize. Awww, the horror!
Some Excuses Are Valid
Finally, there is the argument of making excuses. I believe that if you have a goal set, you will achieve it regardless of the obstacles that are thrown your way. I also know that each of us has unique situations that will create hurdles, for example, a young person with no children vs. a mom of four. They may both be on a path to success, but their finish times might differ because their circumstances are different. But please do not tell a mom of 4 that is putting her all into a project but might not show up one day because she has a sick child that she is making excuses. Because she is not, her priorities are just a little different. My thing is once you are on that path and you are dedicated, there may be times when you are thrown off track, and that’s okay; the key is the ability to get back on track and keep going.
One Size Does Not Fit All
If you are venturing out on your own or are working a 9 to 5 or trying something new, just know to be successful you have to:
- Get started
- Set goals
- Be Consistent
- Have a growth mindset
- Willing to work hard
- Have a work/home balance
- Focus on nutrition, exercise, and sleep
- Understand it’s a marathon, not a sprint
- Understand each individual will have a different path
- Enjoy the journey
This list is what I have found works for me; it may be different for you because one size does not fit all.
I have been trying to remind myself this
Same, it’s a constant reminder for me too.
This is such an important reminder! As a therapist I work a lot with people to determine a good “sleep environment”. We do not realize there are a lot of things that are affected by a lack of good sleep!
A good night’s sleep cannot be stressed enough.
Great reminder, i really needed this on this hectic monday. My weekend was so not healthy! I love your blog!
Thank you, Petra, for your kind words. I am happy my blog served as a reminder for you. I hope you can recover and have a great week.
Very true!!! It’s a fact that everyone has a different set of life circumstances. You can’t take one person’s advice and expect it to apply to your situation thoroughly.
Exactly, you can take the bits and pieces that work for you.
This is a reminder that we all need from time to time. As a disabled person I have to adapt a lot of things to fit with what I’m able to do, and over time the idea of one size does not fit all has become easier for me to accept. Other times it’s incredibly hard, and a lot of guides with life tips fail to take that into consideration. It was refreshing to read one built on that premise instead of ignoring it 🙂
Thank you for your valuable feedback, Heather. I am happy that my post was relatable. After reading your comment, I realize that I, too, may be guilty of not being more inclusive, and it is something I can focus on moving forward.
This is such a good reminder! Everyone is different so different things work for each person
Indeed and it took me a while to figure it out, lol.