I Burnt Myself, My Dream, and My Business Completely Out.
I just spent 10.5 years encouraging people to BELIEVE in their GREATNESS. But today I’ve lost the momentum and I’m afraid that not enough people believed me.
Hey there, my name is Bridgette, and if we haven’t met before, welcome to my blog! I have a small digital design agency currently based in Tampa, Florida. Cre8tive Vibes is dedicated to supporting aspiring entrepreneurs who are in the beginning phases of bringing their business idea to life. You know, the part where you need to take a leap of faith, but someone might have to give you a shove? It’s also the part when you have to trust your instinct and literally dive into the land of the unknown. Whether you are being led by your purpose or it is actually push coming to shove, keep reading. You are in the right place.
It seems like yesterday when I was sitting at my office desk at a job that no longer fueled my passion. I was underpaid, overworked, and never appreciated. I knew there was more out there for me and the idea of staying in that position another day was not it. I had to quit and move on. But I didn’t have a very realistic exit plan. I just knew I had come to the end of this 7-year situation and needed to resign. This was a tough space.
When I quit, I took a risky leap of faith… No backup job and not enough savings. I don’t suggest this at all so know that I’m sharing this so you can learn from my mistakes. I was scared, nervous, had no one to turn to, and had no mentor to get advice from. There wasn’t anyone to help, someone who gets what it takes to be an entrepreneur. This was a lonely place and I felt so lost and regretted my choice several times. The need for someone non-judgemental, who understood my “WHY”, and could “relate” was something I craved.
The reality was, I couldn’t afford to pay a coach/mentor, so Youtube was my best friend. I had to work with fickle clients just to make ends meet each month. For years all I did was work on my business, create the blueprint, learn the technology, and prepared what I needed. I was pushed outside of my comfort zone and challenged daily to fight for what I believe in. I quickly realized that nothing would change if you don’t have a MINDSET for change. After downsizing my living space twice and working part-time making 75% less than the salary I once had, I knew something amazing would eventually happen. It HAD to! Right?!
I’ve since then accepted the reality that I can’t really coach people to change their mindset. Either you do or you don’t. The worse part is 9 times out of 10 I would connect with people who are on the fence. It was like riding a neverending rollercoaster. Passion. Cre8tivity and the love for seeking your purpose can’t be taught. And it’s so not contagious. Be nice if it were though. Since we live in the real world I have to settle for believing in myself and staying the course. Sure I can share tips, tools, and best practices, but they have to choose to take action. They have to want to do the work and get uncomfortable. I don’t have a magic potion for overcoming fear, procrastination, and believing.
I turned 50 last year and this morning I looked in the mirror and said. “I’ve dedicated the past 10 years to building a failed business. 😞”
So after being in the ring fighting for 10.5 years. I have to admit I’m losing the battle. Now I’ve found myself here. Sitting in the business center of my rental apartment wondering what have I done?
I have burnt myself, my dream, and my business completely out.
What do you do when you have done all you can?
Your answer may look different from mine. You may say go get a job, let it go, or start over! But the reality of it all is sometimes you will lose.
But every loss is not a defeat. Sometimes we lose so we can grow. Or we face loss in order to pick up and go a new direction. This is what I like to call the Shift & Pivot. Life often provides us with a chance to “choose your own adventure”. It’s all about perspective and understanding the process.
Here’s my perspective. I have done an amazing job building a business that offers exactly what I designed it to do. All of my efforts, blood, sweat, and tears, have created something truly amazing. The reality of it all is, I’ve actually helped several people BYOB (Be Your Own Brand). I’ve designed hundreds of marketing promotions, social media posts, websites, logos, and offered encouragement to even more people to GO BE GREAT. That’s a success in my mind.
After a pandemic and life is more unpredictable than ever, my ideal client has had to put their dreams of entrepreneurship on hold. So that means my business is in a holding pattern too. I have had to do a lot of internal investigation to come to and accept this point. Time to Shift. Again.
I’m a firm believer that you learn from experience. When you sacrifice and work for something that is not given to you freely, it has way more value. You won’t ever truly understand until you experience it for yourself.
If you can relate to my story, you may be feeling a bit of burnout, but just keep that flame lit. The struggle is real guys and you can’t give in to defeat. Just learn to Shift & Pivot. Today is no different from the last time you were here. It is time to fight! This is a battle! You have a choice to relax, stretch or win.
If your mind and body tell you you need to RELAX. Then you have to choose to sit down and take a moment to replenish your soul. It is time to be still. Burnout comes from pushing forward. In the wrong direction. So when I feel the tension getting out of control, I know it is time to take a seat. Then pray, shift and pivot.
If you choose to STRETCH, then you know you have to mentally be prepared to do something that’s hard. Do you have the capacity? Are your head and heart and body equipped to stay the course? If so, just remember, stretching only works when your mind is stable and your ability to focus on your goal is in sync. They ONLY work when they work together.
If you choose to WIN then you have to be prepared to work hard for that W. Harder than you ever have… ever. The choice is up to you.
When you choose to win then you will find the perfect balance needed to grow.
Just know that you are not alone. We all go through this growing time of transition and change.
The fact that I’m sitting here fighting regret and writing this is proof that I’ve grown internally leaps and bounds. Your mindset is everything. Protect it and don’t allow the noise to discourage you and keep you from moving forward. You were born to be and do great things. Greatness without a doubt is the priceless reward that everyone should strive for.
Till next time — Go Be Great.
