New Year in Rome, Italy
This tends to be the time that we reflect on what all happened during the previous year. As I think about 2021, I’m grateful for the moment I realized something that will probably affect me and our business for the rest of my life.
After ten years of being in a client-based online business — and twenty-two total years in entrepreneurship — I admitted and acknowledged that client work was not for me.
I made a decision to quit coaching, stop creating content on behalf of clients, and let go of all my ghostwriting projects. It was a scary and confusing decision.
Realizing What Didn’t Work
My little negative voice tried hard to convince me that client work was the only way to make real money. My limiting beliefs were screaming that every business needs client-work to generate six and seven figures.
I ignored that voice because the thought and goal of complete freedom are much stronger.
I was so over-trading time for dollars — I wanted dollars in a way that didn’t monopolize too much of my time. I was over having to be accountable for so many factors that were outside of my control. I was tired of taking on too much of the responsibility that would lead to a successful result.
I would cringe every time I got the “rush” email from a client. They would be “checking in,” but I know that was a passive-aggressive way to hurry me up. Working for clients felt like a regular job to me, and I couldn’t do it anymore.
The Transition to Freedom
July of 2021 was when I let go of client work once and for all. I decided to embrace my desire to build a business in which we generated revenue through an education-only model and directly through my writing for large publications.
We started and have been building our education-based Published & Paid membership program. We love the community of rockstar entrepreneurs that have joined and the results they’re getting.
Last month was the first time in years that I billed and got to get an ACH payment from a large publication (AskMen). This month, we’ve already surpassed last month in revenue generated directly from large publication writing.
The dream is real, and I’m committed to the goal of making money only by doing what I love. I won’t wake up anymore dreading what’s on my calendar.
Get Honest With Yourself
One lesson I want to share in this time of reflection is that you don’t have to stay stuck doing the things you think you “have to do” to make money and build your business.
Just because it’s working for someone else doesn’t mean it’s right for you. It’s important to think about how you actually want to spend your time, how you want to make your money, and what freedom means to you.
With clarity, create a plan and go deep on making that your reality. Focus and consistency make the dream real.
Don’t settle or fall into someone else’s vision of what they think entrepreneurship should look like. Let go of what doesn’t serve you. Your business builds when you step into alignment with how you want to wake up each day and spend your time. What are you put on this earth to do?
Do what makes sense for your mental sanity, and work hard towards your vision of true freedom. You can do entrepreneurship in a feel that feels right for you.
Life is too short to live it miserably.
And to anyone that was a client of mine in the past twenty-two years, thank you SO much for your business. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity we had to work together, and wish you nothing but success and absolute happiness!
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This article initially appeared on Medium.
