Daily Habits

How much of success really is just showing up?

What if I told you the biggest secret to success is just showing up every day? You’re rolling your eyes right now, aren’t you? It's really true, and most of it is that simple. Just start (like I covered last week), and then keep doing it. That is where the magic happens. It's easier to steer a moving ship - so get moving and keep moving.

Even writing this - what you’re reading right now is the result of carving out 20 minutes in my daily schedule, every single day, 500 words at a time. Eventually, you get some writing worth showing people (that’s the idea, anyway). That’s what you can accomplish in small incremental steps on a regular, daily basis. Have more time than that? Great! Do 1000 words a day. 2000. Find the thing you enjoy doing that you’re already half-way decent at, pick a sustainable amount of time to commit to it each day, and then actually do it. Consistency and persistence sound simple, and they are. I think most people would be shocked at how successful they’d become if all they did was dedicate themselves to doing a little bit every single day towards their goals.

So let’s put this idea into practice. You want to start a business, right? You want to transition from the soul sucking, painful day-to-day you’re stuck in now, to a world of possibilities doing things you love, you’re good at, and for people you care about. Awesome. But a big goal like that can feel overwhelming, so let’s take a small piece of that: Do you need some kind of training or certification before you can start? Then start researching what programs are out there so you can pick one that works best for what you want. 30 minutes a day of research will get you to a place to make a decision on which course to take within a week, I’ll bet. 

Maybe you’re unsure and still need to do some research about the business itself. Maybe your first step is to find some people doing what you want to do and talk with them. Take them to lunch, pay them their hourly rate to get on a zoom call with them, or go to the conferences, networking events, or cocktail parties where these people hang out. Ask thoughtful questions that will give you a sense of what their day to day looks like, their struggles, the less fun job duties as well as the fun ones. Spend 30 minutes a day reaching out to people you find on social media or LinkedIn until you find someone willing to say yes to a meeting (and I bet you’ll find someone willing to chat quicker than you think).

If you don’t need additional education or mentors, maybe your first step is to file your LLC. There are resources for that too: a quick internet search should bring up the government-sanctioned process for getting that done in an afternoon. Making moves is making progress. Have a different idea of where you want to start? Good. Whatever it is, is good enough. Do that. Collect information, think about it, form your next move. Go.

I promise it's that simple. You might be sitting here thinking “ugh, but everyone is already doing the thing I want to do” - uhm, I’m here to tell you - no, they’re not. Not even close. First, they aren’t you. They don’t bring to the table what you bring. But besides that, do you know how many people give up? How many would-be authors never finish their book? Do you know how few podcasts last 50 episodes? Or even 25? When you think about those statistics, you realize having some grit and determination to get past where everyone else drops off might be all it takes to get to where you really want to go. You want this, right? You want a better life, better work, more fulfilling career. You wouldn’t have subscribed if you didn’t. So why not try? Try just a little bit, every day. What have you got to lose, but 30 minutes a day of your time?

If you need accountability or coaching through this process, I offer one-on-one and group coaching, specifically for people looking to change careers or start a business to do what they love. Reach out at bw@barbaraproject.com if interested.