Open Me When You Need to Feel Inspired…

I’m feeling inspired today.

I cannot decide if I’m just feeling the need to write something in general today, or if it’s based around the context. I guess it is probably a little of both. Either way, I felt inclined to put the proverbial pen to paper.

Let’s take a moment to talk about your ambitions, your goals… Heck, where do you see yourself in 5 years? Do you feel like you are stuck in a rut? Do you loathe your current job or situation? Are you spinning around on that hamster wheel and cannot for the life of you find your way off?

I’ve been there. We have all been there in some capacity. And for the sake of transparency, somedays I still find myself there.

But, guess what? That feeling, it’s totally normal.

We all eventually outgrow a situation or lifestyle. Maybe we have bypassed the goals that we set for ourselves and are wondering what comes next. Maybe one day we wake up and we just decide that we want more. More financial security. Or more time with family. Or to take that next step in our career. But how do you even get to that next level or take that next step?

When you need to feel inspired…

I was in a webinar earlier today (yes, Zoom fatigue is SO real - yawn). Before it got started I got to video chatting with a colleague I’ve known for years now. Back when I first decided to start this marketing agency, ironically enough she was one of the first people that I had told. Today she said “Stepfani, I can remember when you first made this decision. I can remember how excited you were about it, but I can definitely remember how scared you were, too. And although you were scared, look at all that you have accomplished since then.”

She then encouraged me to start speaking about my journey. Because the path here was not all roses. There were people who told me that I couldn’t do it, a pandemic that threw a wrench in my perfectly constructed plans, and there were definitely some tears along the way. You deal with family and friends who show little to no interest in your business. And others who just cannot find it within themselves to be happy for you and want to see you fail. Yes, it is frustrating. At the end of the day though, they are still watching. Which reminds me of a saying I saw a while back that went something along the lines of “you inspire people who pretend to not even see you, trust me”.

The whole conversation got me thinking about the many times that I have heard from other women about how I was the inspiration they needed to take the next step in their career or to branch off outside of the typical corporate structure. Is it terrifying? Absolutely! You are entering unknown territory where the risk of failure is very real. But oh my god, the reward… It doesn’t even come down to monetary value. If you remove that from the equation, for me and so many others who found themselves in a similar rut, it comes down to the quality of life.

I guess what I’m trying to say is you can do hard things. It might be scary. It might be a huge risk. And maybe it means bulking up on ramen for a few months or adjusting your spending habits until you get to that sweet spot in your new venture. Just whatever you do, do not base your life decisions off of other people telling you that you cannot. Especially if those people are not paying your bills or contributing to your overall success. Chase what you want in life. Be your own damn boss. And above all else, choose happiness - you will never regret it.