Are you holding yourself back?

Here is a simple truth I want to share with you – no one makes a better enemy than yourself. There are so many times in my life where I have had everything I have needed to succeed – the funding, the inspiration, the support network…but I’ve still managed to screw things up. Why? Because I didn’t have the drive and the dedication to reach my full potential.

Sometimes when things aren’t working out the way we want, we look for reasons and things to blame, but rarely can we notice when we’re the actual cause of the problem. Here’s a list of things you can do to ensure you don’t hold yourself back.

Sleep less – Although there are people out there who claim they can survive on 2 hours sleep a night, doctors recommend you get around 6-8 hours. I personally have never been a morning person and struggle getting up early, but I now set my alarm for precisely 6 hours after I go to bed. The extra two hours I get in the morning give me time to handle my business, get myself organised for the day and even squeeze in a longer meditation session.

Set goals – Each day when you get up, write a list of the things you need to achieve and put them in order of importance. No matter what the day throws at you, keep looking back to your list and make sure you cross everything off before you call it quits for the day.

Don’t waste your cash - There’s nothing wrong with partying, in fact it can be a great way to network and learn more about your target market. But when you’re running your own business funds can be tight and you really have to prioritise. For example, I used to go out a few times a week. Now I save up and go out for a big night once a month and put all the money I save straight back into my business.

Make friends, not enemies – In an ideal world every single person you met would be easy to get along with, but unfortunately this just isn’t the case. Having ill feelings with people can be very distracting, and not to mention damaging to your brands image. That’s why it’s important to go out of your way to make and keep as many positive relationships with the people you meet as possible.

Never lose sight of your dream – Starting your own business is all about learning from your mistakes, but it can be hard to keep positive through all the ups and downs. The most important thing is to remember your big goal, your dream and never forget that that’s what you’re aiming for – and with patience and perseverance, you’re going to get it.

Thanks for reading!