Ep. 18 - Finding your burn

My post last week was a little dark. It focused on what I would have changed if I could do it all over again and start fresh. I think this kind of self-reflection is a must-do for any entrepreneur. We must possess the ability to have difficult conversations with ourselves. We can’t lie to ourselves, because those lies will eventually catch up to us. And 'catching up to us' means running us out of business. Difficult conversations with oneself and honest self-reflection is the only path toward self, and business, improvement.

It turns out though, that the post was just as therapeutic for me, as I hope it was helpful for you. This week, however, I’m focusing on the brighter side of entrepreneurship. I'm focusing on the reason why I wake up every morning and do the work.

I've spoken with a few different entre/solopreneurs over the past week and many struggle with the same battles. They struggle with always being ‘on’, always being the face of the organization, and never really having the opportunity to unplug. And it’s true, it’s challenging. But it’s what we signed up for. There is a reason why we continue to do the work, and the reason is the fire that burns inside all of us.

I’ve realized that in order to stay disciplined and put in the work when I really don’t want to, I must defer to my inner burn. That fire inside of me. Everyone has one, it’s just a matter of finding it. It took me a while to find my burn, but once I did, everything else fell into place.

So what is my burn? My burn is living a free and fully expressed life. And by free, I mean doing what I want, when I want. No thoughts about making time for it and no thoughts about wondering if I can afford it, because I’ll have an abundance of both time and money. My burn is shifting 'retirement' from 65 to 35. I want more time with my partner, my family, and my nephews.

When I fall into a dark place, whether it be for an hour, a day, or a week, I have to continually remind myself of my burn - my why. This helps me stop the slide, and stopping the metaphorical slide is crucial to entrepreneurial and personal growth. The slide is when you feel yourself losing “it”. “It” may be confidence, desire, motivation, or your business. We must stop the slide.

So next time you’re thinking about quitting, or thinking about not writing that article, or applying for that job, just think about your burn. Think about your future self, because your future self won’t remember the short-term pain of writing that piece, but it may enjoy the fruits of that labor down the road.

Find your burn and remember it.