When I was a child, my mother, who visited me after school twice a week at my grandparents’ house where I lived, told me one afternoon “you will never fit in with your peers.” She was crazy, to be sure, but oddly prophetic and randomly wise. And she didn’t seem to think anything of saying things like that to a nine year old. She would tell me all sorts of stories and odd bits of wisdom that looking back, I would never tell a child. But I’m glad she did. I have carried those words with me and in every situation where I felt out of place, those words have made it ok. I was never meant to fit in. I have always had a non traditional life. So it makes perfect sense that now, in my 30s, I would embark upon this journey into the mad world of the social media entrepreneur. It may be due my wild upbringing that I enjoy the thrill of the ride, the excitement of taking risks. I love the creativity of pushing the envelope, running my business in a completely new and different way.
So far, I have learned that I have one life and I am going to live it to the fullest every day. Not someday, today. We all have goals that we are working towards but sometimes we get so focused on our goals we forget just how far we have come. Tomorrow is not promised so it’s important to enjoy life now while we are working towards our goals for the future.
I am no longer living in fear. As an entrepreneur, I hear the same comments I’m sure a lot of you do. “If this doesn’t work out you’ll have to get a real job.” “I wish I could live like you but I have responsibilities.” “You have to take any job you can get because it’s money. If you turn down a client you are being foolish.” I have decided not to let those messages in. I don’t even entertain the idea of failure and I surround myself only with people who get the vision and have the fire. They inspire me, push me, and hold me up when I get discouraged.
I give myself permission to put myself first and always. I can only contribute to the world when my needs have been met. So I don’t apologize for my schedule or the way I do things. I don’t have to explain to anyone what I eat, when I exercise, how I handle my business, or my personal relationships.
I have done a lot of work through therapy, coaching, and personal study to get to this point. It was extremely difficult and at the time I greatly resented the position I was put in and the work I had to do. But now that I am here, I am grateful for all the lessons because I truly have the spiritual foundation to make a difference in the world in a big way. I use every bit of wisdom to help my clients every day, and that is the most rewarding thing in the world. I wouldn’t trade this crazy, rebellious life for anything!