The Enemy…..Could It Be YOU?
Are you a control freak?
Do you have unrealistic expectations?
Are you addicted to the “shoulds” in life?
Do you multitask your way to crazy?
Do you let others drain you of emotional energy?
Do you hold onto the past?
Do you let fear keep you from moving forward?
Do you save some time in your day for yourself?
We all do it, at least some of it. Even as I write this, I can think of examples where I’ve engaged
in each of these categories. Well, some of us are slow learners, then there are others of us who
resist change and hang onto some of these bad habits. Let us take a close look at these potential
stumbling blocks and explore ways to improve our lives and, as a result, our businesses.
CONTROL: You cannot control the world, or even your small corner of the world. To do so is
to create an atmosphere of stress, for yourself and for those around you! Give up the idea that only
you can “do it right!” There are other talented people in the world!! Learn to delegate, which
will free yourself for other things that need your attention, and which can offer positive learning
opportunities for others. Learn to say “no”. You don’t have to help with all projects others ask
of you simply because your child attends that school, sport, or activity. Be proactive early on by
offering your help in areas which utililize your gift/skills/knowledge. We’re not all good cooks!
Someone else who likes to cook can bake the cupcakes or cookies!
EXPECTATIONS: Do you have unrealistic expectations of yourself, your family, your business?
Do you set goals that even the “best in the business” could not reach? If you do, you are setting
yourself up for major disappointments. Lofty expectations are alright if they inspire us to do our
best, but we must hold those expectations loosely because we cannot control all of the
circumstances in life.
“SHOULDS”: Parents, friends and others sometimes like to tell us what we SHOULD do. Let
go of the “shoulds” and embrace your gifts, your skills, and your natural abilities. Acknowledge
them with gratitude then let common sense guide you with integrity to your own path of action.
Be true to yourself, not to someone else’s notion of what you should or should not do.
MULTI-TASKING: It can be a skill, but then again, it can lead to frustration, disorganization,
and mistakes, which in business can be costly. Remember to plan, prioritize, and focus on that
which is most important and if you can do something else at the same time without distracting
yourself, so much the better. Many psychologists maintain that we don’t really multitask, but that
some individuals have the ability to go rapidly from one task to the other, or rapidly back and forth.
Whatever the case, find a work style that is effective and works for you..
RENUMERATION: “What if” and “if only” lead us nowhere. Always looking backwards keeps
us from looking forward! Let go of the past. It is what it is! Move on. Research in recent years

has shown that those who spend their time grieving over something they said, or something they
did and now wish they could change, are more likely to deal with depression than those who spend
less time worrying about the past. Reminiscing about the past is one thing, but staying there is
unhealthy and prevents our moving forward with new experiences and positive changes in our
lives.
ENERGY: Are you a magnet for needy people? Is your compassion and care for others overtaking
your life, your energy? Even compassion has its’ limits. Showing too much compassion doesn’t
always help the individual to learn and grow. They just unload on you, which weighs you down
and reduces both your creativity and your productivity. They leave you alone for a few days, and
then they are back. We call these people “basement people”—always dragging you down. We
need to give more time to our “balcony people”— those who are always pulling us up, encouraging
us and cheering us on!!
FEAR: Does the fear of failure hold you back? You will make mistakes. We all do, but we can
learn from those mistakes and move forward. Be strong and have confidence in yourself. Hey,
right now you are building your business while there are many folks who would never in a million
years try to do that!
YOU: Do you give yourself some “me time” daily? Making time in your day for exercising,
relaxing, or just doing something you really enjoy (apart from your career) is critical to avoiding
burnout. Slow down and “smell the roses”, or listen to your favorite music, or watch a movie
you’ve been wanting to see. Learn to laugh at yourself when you make mistakes.
Have Fun, Love, Laugh, and “Dance as if no one is watching!”
Allowing time for this will energize YOU and YOUR BUSINESS!!!
Sharron
EG Team
Suggested reading:
True Work—Doing What You Love and Loving What You Do, by Michael Toms and Justine Willis Toms, co-founders
of New Dimensions Radio.
Life under the Limbo Bar—Secrets for navigating it without losing your mind, written by Faith Wood, a mother, wife,
entrepreneur, coach, and business owner.
Strengths Finder 2.0, by Tom Rath New York Times Bestselling author of WELLBEING.