By Armando “BUTZ” Bartolome
I always start my day with a prayer thanking the Lord for giving me another chance at life, see new opportunities and be with my loved ones. This is what makes me go through the day, particularly during those times when my day would simply be full of activities. Just like, I also experience getting depressed and disappointed when things do not go the way I plan them to be. But, I have realized that expecting too much too often will only make me feel unhappy with myself, with my life. And that is not how I want to live my life.
Being a mentor to so many entrepreneurs, the guidance that I give them is not only about how to handle their business wisely. First and foremost, they must be emotionally and psychologically prepared if they truly want to succeed. And I guess, this applies to everyone.
Starting a business can be challenging. Even if you think that you are 100% prepared or sure about what you are going to deal with, there is always a small part in you that would somehow question if you can truly do it. If you indulge in such thoughts, what do you think would happen? Having self-doubt could easily reflect on your actions. When your employees notice this unusual behavior, they themselves may no longer be comfortable about pursuing their jobs. Of course, you wouldn’t want to just waste all the time and money that you have spent. Therefore, you need to learn to have focus so you can get on with your journey as an entrepreneur.
What could help you succeed?
Apart from knowing the ins and outs of the business, you need to program your mind in such a way that it can let you climb the ladder of success. Here are some ways on how you can keep a better perspective by doing these simple things every day.
Focus on your goals. As your day starts, make it a habit to create a to-do list. Have a clear picture of how you want your day to be. List them according to how these can help you achieve your goals for the day. You may also create a list of things that you plan to do for a month. Track down your progress so you’ll know if you are going to the right path.
Give yourself a few minutes each day to gather your thoughts and remind yourself that you need to accomplish something every day. Motivate yourself so you can take the necessary actions to reach your goal.
Meditate. Most people have become caught up with their busy schedules that they fail to just stop for a while and listen to what their inner self tells them. Close your eyes and see yourself. Are you happy spending so many hours behind your desk doing so many things all at once and get back home so tired and with zero energy to talk to your family?
When you do meditation, this does not only allow you to be at rest physically. It also allows you to hear yourself. It helps to clear your mind and alleviate anxiety. Increase your positive emotions and sustain those feelings as long as possible. You will be surprised at how you can better handle difficult situations when you have learned to be calm.
Talk to somebody. You don’t need to talk to a professional all the time. Sometimes the problems that we are dealing with is not because of the business or the job that we have. Most of the time it is ourselves. We fail to recognize who we are or how we have become. You may have noticed with some people you know who used to be so sweet and happy have become loud and grouchy. This is brought about by too much stress from work. It has turned them into monsters without them knowing.
It is natural that we all get to be different in times of troubles or when we are going through something. But it is never an excuse to behave badly towards other people. Sometimes, all we need is a lending ear to be able to take out all our frustrations. Bottled up emotions do not only hurt relationships. It can also affect your health.
Also, talking to other people may help you be enlightened. There may be things you have in mind which you plan to pursue. Sharing it with someone may help you scrutinize whether it is something that is possible or not. A word or two of support may just be all you need to create a dynamic plan.
You may have always seen me smiling and I do joke a lot with close friends. But, I am just like anybody else. There are downtimes, too. However, I choose to see the positive in everything. The world does not revolve around me. I don’t want to hurt people around me just because I am having a bad day. I have a family to protect… a single shot at life. And I choose to see the good things and try to push myself to be the best example to my peers.
Those habits mentioned are not too difficult to do. We just need to give time for these and realize that they are all worth it. REMEMBER: Your daily habits determine your success.