So many people are waiting for life and circumstances to be “just right” before launching that business, writing that book, starting a family, or unleashing the next chapter of life.
Here’s the big secret of those you think are successful: the time will never be “just right.” If you want it bad enough, you sacrifice, hustle, show up, and work around whatever obstacles are in your way.
The second big secret is that social media is a highlight reel, not real life. Stop comparing your life in the trenches with someone else’s vacation photos at the beach. Don’t compare your debut novel’s rough-draft with your favorite author’s traditionally-published best-seller. Stop comparing apples to oranges. Better yet, just STOP COMPARING.
My reality today is I’m on day two of a flare up, and am working from bed because my service dog won’t let me up. The nerve and joint pain, vertigo, and instability are too great for me to have a “picture perfect” day, but here’s the picture any way. We moved recently, and there are still boxes to unpack and drapes to hang (we have lovely thermal black-out drapes for the master bedroom, but darn if we can find them… they will turn up in a mismarked box, I feel certain).
The other reality is that from my bed this morning, being waited on by Nurse Gizmo, I have answered all my emails, completed today’s portion of an Instagram challenge, signed another coaching client, and taken care of one of my my social media clients.
Did you know that Winston Churchill got the bulk of his work done from his bathtub? He overcame a stammer to become an orator, battled clinical depression (modern medical experts now believe he lived with bipolar disorder), and was also a young stroke survivor. He figured out how to work around his limitations to help lead the world during one of its darkest chapters in history.
No matter what your challenge, limitation, or disability, you can find famous and successful people who overcame the exact same situation or worse, and draw inspiration from them.
- Children underfoot and can’t concentrate? Johann Sebastian Bach had twenty, Susannah Wesley had seventeen.
- Chronic migraine? Yeah, me too, and it’s Migraine Awareness Month. Also look here for other famous migraineurs.
- No money to start your empire? You are not alone. See how these entrepreneurs did it.
- Think you’re too young or inexperienced? These youngsters didn’t let that stop them.
- Various other disabilities? Mental illness, neurological diseases, missing limbs, etc., etc…. here are people who figured out how to impact the world anyway.
- Did that ship sail with your youth? There are many that didn’t start until “retirement.”
- And then there’s Jon Morrow, founder of Smart Blogger, who can’t move anything but his face. Y’all need to check him out!
So, my dear aspiring [author, entrepreneur, fill in the blank], stop waiting and stop comparing. The time and circumstances will never be just right. Do the best you can with the talents and resources you currently have and know that something is always better than nothing. You may not be able to change the whole world, but you can most certainly change your world.
Click on the picture to learn more about #gizmo_the_sd and #servicedogs.
What creative ways you have found to work around the challenges and limitations that threaten to derail your dream? Please comment below. Let’s share solutions and creative options.
Hello! I tried to write a response yesterday, but I don’t think it stuck.
I hope you’re feeling better.
I wanted to thank you for your wisdom and guidance.
For the past several months my writing time has decreased because I’ve
been volunteering more and going to a little part-time office job at an animal hospital.
Being around other people is therapeutic for me, but I’m writing less, which I feel bad
about. I’m comparing myself to a previous self who diligently wrote 5 mornings a week.
Even if I’m in a coffee shop I can feel isolated, and it was bringing me down.
That being said, I’ve still been able to work on book #3 at least one morning a week, but my
progress is very slow, and when I do write I spend so much time figuring out where I left off.
I guess I’m struggling to find a balance.
Have you tried leaving yourself notes of what you want to do next before ending your writing session. I keep a to-do list in my document, so that’s the first thing I see when I log back in. It’s how I compensate for irregular writing schedule and short term memory issues.
I am glad your working on book three. You are so talented, Martha. And I’m glad you found a good spot to volunteer.
Keep me posted! Best wishes…
Thanks for writing back. Yes, that’s exactly what I do. At the top of the page I write what I was working on and what I need to continue with. This week I’ve had a little more time to write because I’m visiting my mom in Wisconsin. It’s gorgeous here and this is Goldie’s first trip(plane rides, airports, restaurants and stores), as my service dog. She’s so chill, and focused on me, like she’s been doing it for years! I’m sure you understand.
Brilliant! Good for Goldie. I know that makes you feel safer and more confident. I’d sure like to be in WI today. Menomonee Falls is home. Heat index in Texas today is 109. Thank God for A/C.
I don’t think I knew WI was home for you!
So true when we do things the way they are coming to us we do with authencity