how to guide a business (or life)

#1: Define your goals and values.

At first, it may seem like up-in-the-clouds nonsense. Really, who has time to dwell in such abstract realms? There’s a business to run, budgets to watch, clients to please. Or maybe just a life to live, bills to pay, mouths to feed. I mean, in truth, what difference will that make?

All the difference.

Don’t believe me?

Ask the small business owner who is years down the line scratching their head, wondering how they managed to amass a client portfolio that completely doesn’t represent them.

Or, maybe talk to the burnt-out employee in their upteenth job, still dissatisfied and staring at a resume of experience so far from what they dreamed.

In those shoes, it’s a bit easier to see -- it’s hard to stay the course when you never defined it.

I’m not here to sugar coat it. Stepping back to define goals and values takes energy, time and resources. But, I can assure you, taking the time to set a course that authentically represents you makes all the difference in the world. Taking that action will posture you to make your vision a reality.

maximizer

Entering into a new coffee shop for the first time, it’s a foreign thing for me to walk in, take a cursory glance at the menu and quickly place an order. But, just now, I did that very thing. Those who know me well can attest – that’s sort of a big deal.

See, the tendency of my mind is to survey the full scope of options and study the possibilities very carefully to ensure the very best selection. Psychologist/writer Barry Schwartz would characterize me as a maximizer. The problem with my line of thinking is that there isn’t always a single, best choice. There likely will be numerous good options, and the possibilities quickly become overwhelming.

Take the restaurant will an all-around awesome menu – you know, the one where everything sounds delish. Should be something to get excited about, right? No matter what you select, it’s bound to be amazing.

But, to the maximizer, this type of restaurant is torturous. Why? The maximizer aims to make the very best selection. The problem here? There isn’t necessarily a best option. So, the maximizer becomes incredibly overwhelmed and even paralyzed. Even after they cough up a choice, they likely won’t be satisfied. Life becomes oppressive when this affects most everyday decisions.

So, being a maximizer certainly isn’t something to strive for. And, though my nature is to be one, I’ll argue that I make choices that allow those thoughts to control me. Thus, I’m reframing my mind, one step at a time. And today, I’m celebrating a little victory because this marks the day one trick became clear to me – don’t survey the entire field.

[bran muffins from Super Natural Everyday]

a mistake

I made a mistake at work today. In the moment, it felt bad, as mistakes generally do. Yet, I quickly moved into odd gratitude for the healthy dose of perspective it brought.

See, I used to feel as though I should be walking on eggshells in my jobs. I vividly remember moments in internships where I was terrified I’d make a mistake. It seemed all forces of the universe were conspiring against me and the misstep would inevitably come. It was just a matter of time.

But, I’ve come to understand that you should never be fearful of mistakes. Life isn’t about imperfection; it’s about growth and learning. Today’s mistake reminded me:

Your value does not lie in your perfection.

I am not valuable to my employer (or anyone else) because I am perfect. I am valuable because I am a unique package of values, personality, skills and expertise. That exact package is irreplaceable.

Own every bit of who you are, including your mistakes and flaws.

It’s tempting to try to brush off missteps or overlook flaws, but when you face them head on, you gain a hefty amount of self-regard, deepening your own confidence and enabling others to respect you more.

Allow your mistakes to be a compass to your core values.

Mistakes may very well be the product of compromised core values. Their occurrence is a careful reminder to wholeheartedly commit to creating an environment that upholds your own values.

Each of these insights affirmed --“The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing that you will make one.”- Ellen Hubbard

reasons to love the farmers market... a complete breakfast.

[brown eggs, tuscan kale, yellow onions, cara cara oranges, dark molasses bread]

unhurried

It's okay to refuse to exist on overdrive,

even if it means appearing foolish to the rest of the world.

Cease concerning yourself with how you appear to others.

Permit yourself to become who you deeply desire to be.

Unhurried. Present.