The running joke I had with myself at the start of my business was that I just needed, "two more clients." No matter how many I had, I just needed two more.
In those first months, things were hard, and making ends meet was tough. I always DID need two more clients. But as things shifted and my business grew, I needed to re-evaluate the message I was telling myself.
I picked ‘two more clients’ in the beginning because it seemed reasonable. Like I could reach it. The problem was, every time I got a client, I wasn’t any closer to reaching my goal.
We live in a capitalistic society and it permeates everything. It only tells us: You need more!
You need a bigger house, a better car, more money in the bank, more clients, more gadgets, more people in your networking group, more followers, more people who think like you, and WAY more self-care! GO! GO! GO!
Now, some of this might be true. But, because of this constant message of more, it is hard to know when we have enough. It is hard to know what we truly need because as soon as we have attained more, there is more to pursue…
…I had to change the “two more clients” narrative because it was exhausting.
This does not mean I don’t pursue growth in my business! It does mean I won’t pursue “more” at any cost to myself or my business. Instead, I choose to put myself back in the driver’s seat. I make decisions out of purposeful choice, not marketing pull.
Here are three things that have helped me on this journey:
First, truly understanding my finances: What do I need each month? Why am I saving (vacation, a home, retirement)? I have clearly defined my numbers so I can see what is “enough” and where I need to grow based on my goals.
Second, truly defining what brings me joy: Time with family? Sleepovers with my nieces? Trekking in the mountains? Time on the beach? A great movie? Wine with friends? Yup – all of the above! The more I define what brings me joy, the more time I can purposefully give to that activity.
Third, truly understanding what my business needs. Do I need to buy (or create) a new training course? What about purchasing that new gadget or software? Do I need to change my business model because of something I read on social media? The answer is: maybe. The key is to take time to evaluate these choices against my mission, my values, and my business goals to ensure they are aligned.
Knowing what is enough does not mean you settle. But it does mean you are settled. Being settled means you can make decisions from a place of strategy, calm, and purpose instead of reaction, stress, or fear.
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Hello - I'm Amy, a small business coach and owner of Amy Lynne Coaching. I love to help entrepreneurs, solos, freelancers and small business owners reach their dreams. While I am located in the capital city of St Paul, MN, I work with people all over the world thanks to the magic of the internet.
Interested in learning more? Schedule a 30-minute call here!
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