Has Your Business Ever Made You Cry?

May 3rd, 2010

In today’s email, Suzanne Falter-Barns asked a somewhat ~ like very ~ vulnerable question:

“Has your business ever made you cry, Bonnie?”

My answer without a moment’s hesitation! You bet it has… Has yours?

Suzanne went on to say:

I know, I know. We’re not supposed to talk about these things. We’re supposed to be INDEPENDENT, BRAVE and STRONG … and not have inconvenient feelings like fear, shame and serious self-doubt. 

Thing is … those feelings are unavoidable. And the real truth is that when you find yourself planted face down on your bed, wracked with sobs, that’s usually a really good sign. 

It’s an indication of an imminent breakthrough – a complete break with the way you’ve always done things. A chance to be liberated from whatever is currently sticking you … so you can make the surge forward that you need. 

This is the reality of entrepreneurship:  

We’ve all been in tears with our businesses. 

We’re going to be asked to do hard things. 

We’re going to feel like complete idiots from time to time. 

We’ll have to do things sometimes that make us feel crazy, weak or just plain out of our league. 

And yes, we’re going to have dark nights of the soul. 

Which means …. we also get the chance to GROW. To pry ourselves OUT of the comfort zone which is totally a great thing. 

And isn’t that why Spirit put you in business in the first place?  

My note: Thanks, Suzanne, for bravely stating there’s an elephant in the room.

In fact, I’m going through yet another expansion of my comfort zone. What a relief to be reminded that the waves of emotions, sometimes tears, are a good thing!

How grateful I am to be traveling with you, Suzanne. Thanks for being who you are, showing up as you are. I am encouraged and empowered!

I’m ready to do some yoga, then get to bed early so I’m fully charged to show up in the world in a new, bigger, bolder, and better way tomorrow.

P.S. That was yesterday, and today has been a better day. Energy ebbs and flows in nature, and I’m part of nature! So are you… I’m learning to relax and go with the flow, to trust that I am the right person to do the next thing that’s right in front of me, and then to do it. Being in motion makes it easier for me to be in the right place at the right time, to say or do the right thing, meet the right person… you get my point.

So, I invite you to laugh when you feel like laughing, and cry when that feels right, too.  And I will, too. Together, being our real, authentic selves, we can hold each other’s hand and JUMP! Right through the next ring of fire. Let who you no longer need to be, what you no longer need to say or do be burned away a tiny bit at a time. It’s part of the journey of life.

To quote Suzanne, “Isn’t that why Spirit put you in business in the first place?”

And remember, if it’s got to get done, let me help you make it fun!

Tags: Professionals, Strategies for Success

Entry Filed under: Independent Service Professionals, Professionals, Strategies for Success