It’s been an interesting year so far here at HIP Strategic Consulting and in my world in general: a year of highs and lows. My year started off with a BANG! Lots of changes (by choice) and exciting new contracts (and opportunities)—it was exhilarating!
Then, I got in my own way … and found myself sinking into self-doubt, fear of failure, and disillusionment: my own personal quagmire of quicksand. And my accountability partner (whom I love, but I don’t always like when she speaks with radical candor to help me move forward) called me on this recurring pattern. Ouch!
As I sat speaking with a client last week, I experienced an ‘AHA’ moment. I was explaining to her that my job as her Accountability Ally isn’t to stop her from getting in her own way—but rather to provide her with a safe place to examine her patterns and to help her get out of her own way faster.
My client and I aren’t so different. We struggle with similar issues. Our internal journey toward being strong, confident entrepreneurs is full of quicksand that we fail to see. Sometimes, we are just too engrossed in our daily activities to see the broader triggers and patterns emerging.
In truth, I’m thankful that I have an accountability partner who highlights recurring patterns and brings them to my attention so I can spend less time stuck in the quicksand. And in turn, I’m happy to provide that same insight for my accountability ally and mastermind
clients, as I know how much stress recognizing triggers and highlighting patterns can save an entrepreneur.
Some of the most successful, strongest, and confident business people I know get in their own way—regularly! They’ve just found ways to minimize the time mired in the quicksand of self-doubt, failure, and disillusionment. Here is what I’ve observed in working with these entrepreneurs:
They recognize their negative patterns and what triggers them.
They limit the amount of time they allow themselves to be stuck in “inaction.”
They invest time digging into their triggers to establish an early warning system.
They strive to replace their old patterns with new positive patterns that help them excel and grow.
They continue to assess and evaluate and slow down “sticky-points” knowing that growth = challenge and new opportunities = new comfort zone
In essence, they recognize that these patterns may occur—and they find ways to navigate them faster (and sometimes even eliminate them)—so that they spend less and less time stuck in the quick sand, even when they are navigating new territory.
How do you ensure you don’t fall into your own personal quagmire of internal quicksand? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment box below.