When I was growing up, it never occurred to me that I would start my own business. It really only became a consideration after a tremendous loss.
Because of neglecting my health and not recognizing the early warning signs of uterine fibroids, by the time I learned that I had them and what they were, my options were limited.
When I was 30 years old I had a partial hysterectomy. I had little to no time to explore what this procedure would mean emotionally or psychologically. I could only focus on getting through the procedure physically.
Six hours later and 8 pounds lighter, I woke up forever changed in ways good and not so good. Mostly I was left wondering “What’s next?” and “Where do I go from here?”
I was afraid and uncertain about who I was and what I had to offer in relationships. The one thing I did know was what I had to offer in my professional life.
I knew that I wasn’t afraid of failing. I had a sense that perhaps some of my life’s biggest challenges were behind me. So rightly or wrongly, I dove right into building my practice and never looked back.
These days when I advise people on their entrepreneurial efforts, I don’t advise them to leap before they look.
I was wrong about life’s biggest challenges being behind me. But I was correct that this early loss left me better equipped to handle the challenges ahead.
Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs reminds us that we need safety and security.
Starting a business challenges every aspect of our needs. But it also creates tremendous opportunity to gain in every area of need as well.
The truth is starting a business involves tremendous risks and challenges:
- Including the financial risks involved with providing for oneself while dealing with the expenses involved with business development.
- Battling with self doubt about what has to be learned to be successful and maintain that success.
- Cultivating the physical endurance and energy it takes to attend to numerous business matters.
- The strategic challenge developing a professional support system, as well as building one’s team or employees.
- The relational challenge of attending to one’s own needs, loved one’s needs and professional demands.
The rewards include but are not limited to:
- Making a difference in the lives of the people you serve.
- Earning your first big payday and every single one after.
- Shaping your professional experience and only doing work you love.
- Experiencing a sense of unlimited potential to create what you want.
- Being your own boss and shaping your own schedule.
Loss motivated me to go after what I wanted. There were two critical incidents that led me down the path of starting my own business.
I wrote about the first incident in my post “Going From Idea to Reality.” You can find it under my professional development blog post category at developmentcounts.com.
While loss comes in many forms, I think its purpose is to remind us of what matters most. Loss reminds me to be grateful and that I must take chances to cultivate what I want.
In the words of Abraham Maslow “One can go backward toward safety or forward toward growth.”
Copyright © 2015 Ruby Blow. All rights reserved.
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