Photo by Brooke Lark on Unsplash
Celebrating wins plus how to turn one into the other. These days, it can be kind of difficult to tell the difference between wins and losses in business (or life).
These days, it can be kind of difficult to tell the difference between wins and losses in business (or life). The money in your bank account can be intensely satisfying on a surface level.
When you have money coming from other people, you also (usually) find your business fulfilling. This is a time you celebrate your wins. Sometimes, a loss can legitimately become a win. Other times, a win becomes more losing than winning as you find yourself doing more business than creating – especially if you are a creative type.
Is it OK if I celebrate wins with you for a moment?
In the first month of the year, I scheduled half of my 50 podcast guest goals. I generated $0 in revenue. At that pace (~ $0/qtr), I’d make ~ $0 for 2021.
Guess what? It took me TWO DECADES to get here.
Celebrating Wins
How to celebrate a win despite making money in the process is quite simple. Sometimes the answer isn’t complicated or requires two thousand words to explain or clarify.
You L.I.V.E.
My motto is Live Impassioned Vulnerably every day.
No — I don’t manage a team. Outside of incredible freelancers (who are 1099’d and don’t work solely with me and my business) brought into my business to decrease writing, distribution, or marketing load as needed, there are no employees.
Of course, there would be no employees if there is zero revenue, correct? Yes and no.
Freelancers assist with mundane, time-consuming tasks like video editing, podcast clean-up, and social media posting (no, I don’t post on social media frequently).
Paying for freelancers or VA’s (virtual assistants) free my time to do the necessary work – interviews, and creativity. Currently, neither make money for the business. I don’t make money doing an interview. However, doing an interview gets me in front of their audience. Being in front of someone else’s audience in turn could bring money (in the future).
Like, I don’t make money doing an interview. However, doing an interview gets me in front of their audience. Being in front of someone else’s audience in turn could bring money (in the future).
“Visionaries know that what you do today will impact your tomorrow.”
I do consistent work today so that I reap the dividends in the future.
Celebrating Wins and Losses
Being a freelancers (yes, I freelance all the time) is very rewarding (and lucrative) and should be a celebration. I love meeting and working with different people and businesses from all over the world. I love building relationships – everyone needs these in business and in life. Introverts, you need relationships too.
“Consistently doing today so that you can reap the benefits in the future.”
And… I work (primarily) 4 hours a day, five days a week — Monday-Friday… from home. Hello WIN! Doing what sets my heart on fire. Sure, the money would be magnificent, but at this moment, I am enjoying the interviews and creating. I genuinely believe in being grateful for what I have today.
“Celebrate wins no matter how small or big the win is.”
Creating a Business From a Passion
I CREATED this business – passion in a manner that allows me to spend time with my three amazing kids, who are now teenagers. I’m proud of the fact that, except for when I’m sick, I’m able to participate in my kids’ lives darn near every day. I’d love to spend every day, unfortunately, because of a divorce, that isn’t the case.
Do we have a huge house? No. Could I pretend so that you like me more…? Of course. Could I report a fake income so you believe I’m a thriving entrepreneur? Absolutely YES! But I wouldn’t do that because that’s not who I am as a person. I’m honest and messy and as imperfect according to society as they come – and I’m damn proud of that!
Do I have 38 pairs of shoes, eight diamond rings, and 150 pictures of famous people? No. Could I obtain these for a photoshoot…? Of course.
But that’s not integrity. That’s not who I am as a person.
By the way, chasing shiny objects will not keep you motivated. You will lose hope and give up on your dreams.
Related: Overcoming Entrepreneurial Envy and 15 Ways To Create Engaging Content That Excites Your Audience
Remind yourself that success – wins and loses has ebbs and flows, just as in life.
So, if I’m making no money, what exactly do I have?
Gratitude: A roof over my head, food on the table every day, clothes for myself and children, and the ability to work with people all over the world that warms my heart…
Celebrating Wins… All Your Wins
At the beginning of this article, I asked, “Is it OK if I celebrate my wins with you for a moment?” You’ve made it this far and permitted me to do so. I appreciate and acknowledge you – reading and giving me your time.
Time for the sales pitch, am I correct?
“Hey! If you’d like to do this too… buy my stuff… or go here and set up a time to chat!”
Now, I have to let you down, disappoint you – the pitch isn’t coming. There’s nothing I want from you.
BUT… yup, there it is, and I want you to brace yourself before you read any further. Are you ready?
I want to encourage you because I understand how tough it can be to stay the course when life and business become hard (or is hard during this season).
Celebrate Your Wins
Being a solopreneur or small business owner isn’t easy. There are times you question if this is the path for you and if it wouldn’t be easier to get a job. And it might be. However, I do know that if you stay your course and continue pushing through the difficulties, you will come out on the other side.
Success is on the other side of struggle, adversity, and fatigue so celebrate every win!
I understand that you will (most likely) earn a lot less trying to share and monetize your passions (WHAT) than you would be doing just about any other option available to you.
Your quest to succeed – to win – is not unnoticed. You, my friend, the person reading this message, are not alone. The entrepreneurial struggle is REAL… life is hard. Every person who has brought their definition of ‘success’ to fruition has been as close as you are currently to throwing in the towel and giving up… more often than they’d like to admit publicly.
No one wants to publicly announce they are struggling – failing in life and business.
Allow me to publicly admit that I’ve wanted to throw in the proverbial towel and quit over the last two decades.
Why Is It Difficult To Celebrate Wins?
Winning is relative. At the beginning of the article, I wanted to share a win, and I did. My victory is about having a vision, setting goals, and going after what I want. That’s precisely what I did.
Difficulty winning while going after your WHAT or WHY is because of you. Yup. You are holding yourself back from achieving what it is you want out of life. There is no one else to blame… but YOU!
Here’s the deal. Let’s get honest about life, business, and the journey of an entrepreneur. To win means you must put yourself out into the world, flounder around, and come to the brink of giving up before finding your place – your win.
As the new year started, I had a clear vision of what I wanted the year to look like and what I didn’t want for myself or my business. No, making $0 isn’t what the vision was, is, or will be. Instead, I knew if I put myself in my chair at my desk and wrote my intentions for the year (like really did it instead of saying you are doing it), it would set me on a winning course.
There’s a voice inside of you, just like me, that continues to say…
YOU CAN DO THIS.
YOU WILL DO THIS.
YOU WERE MEANT TO DO THIS.
You may feel there is no one in your corner, cheering you to keep going. Am I right? Well, I’m here at this moment, wanting you to hear the exact words someone else told me once when I tried to quit.
YOU CAN!
YOU WILL!
YOU WERE MEANT!
I guarantee you are not alone!
So… stay the course… and keep moving forward toward your vision with the goals you’ve for yourself and your life. You will win this, I promise.
Remember, people are PRAYING for you to show up in their lives. You are needed and wanted this year!
Keep the words “You CAN do this. You WILL do this. You were MEANT to do this” in your head and the vision of that ONE person waiting for you in your heart as you continue to press forward.
You found this article because you are in a space that needed to hear this message.
And know that I am here, your biggest fan, cheering for all your happiness and success!
Here's to Your Success & Happiness,
Susan
Happiness & Success
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