Written by Originally appeared in our LinkedIn Newsletter: Spoken Like An Entrepreneur
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/wrapping-up-2024-grace-gratitude-lakenya-kopf-exs8c/
This one’s going to be short and sweet mainly because 1) my brain is mush right now and 2) what brainpower I have managed to muster is dedicated to finishing all my work before Kopf Consulting shuts down for the holidays next Friday.
I’ve been avoiding networking events and social media since mid-November, so I haven’t had that creative muse whispering in my ear – birthing blogs, newsletters, and inspirational content. I’ve kept my head down, focused on wrapping up Launch Season and prepping for the end of the year.
Until today.
In a rare moment on social media, I came across an Instagram post from someone upset about all the things they didn’t accomplish this year. They felt like they failed at not getting X, Y, and Z done and looked forward to doing better in the new year.
I took a moment and thought about this person’s post.
First – if my business is still open by the end of the year – I call that a win! I know many entrepreneurs who closed their doors this year for one reason or another.
Second – the only way somethingis a failure is if you quit. Quit trying, quit believing, quit putting in the effort. You simply walk away from it without looking back. Just because XYZ didn’t get done by an arbitrary date (that you set) doesn’t mean it’s a failure. It just means it wasn’t the right time, and as long as you haven’t given up, it’s not a failure; it’s just a postponement.
Third (as I promised to keep this short) – we tend to be our harshest critics and own worst enemies. What may seem like failure and disappointment in your eyes may leave someone else in awe. You may have brought on fewer clients than you desired or made less money than you pictured, but someone is looking at you in amazement and wondering how they can be where you are.
So instead of reflecting on what this year should have been, how you could have done better, and what you will do differently next year – take a moment to give yourself a pat on the back. You made it to December! You are still here, you are still trying, and as long as you are moving forward – even if it isn’t at the rate you want – a baby step is still a step.A win is still a win, even if it seems insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
Give yourself some grace, take some time (even if you don’t believe you have earned it – stop being so hard on yourself!), and approach the new year not with a sense to be better but as a challenge to level up your awesomeness (cheesy, but if it made you smile, laugh, or slightly cringe – I’ll take it as a win).
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