On Monday’s post, we talked about clearing the air, me swearing, and other “reality checks” that lay the groundwork for beginning your renaissance.
After clearing the air, we need to get clear in our heads.
When it comes to creating a Renaissance, you need absolute clarity on what stays and what goes – at least in one area of your life. If we are creating a fresh start, we need a clean slate. That means deciding what stays and what goes.
Think for a minute about what MUST change if you are to have a re-birth in your life and business. What must you part with (ideas, stuff, people, etc). Make a list of at least a few items. I’m not asking you to get overwhelmed and try to let all of these things go at once – that would be emotional suicide. But the list is critical.
In making the list, you’re allowing your brain to do it’s best work – brainstorm. Even if you think you’re lousy at brainstorming, I’m sure we’ve all heard that very self-critical voice chime in from time to time with a litany of “stuff” that keeps us from feeling our very best.
Tap into that voice, if you must. But brainstorm away. Get as specific and concrete as you possibly can. Get massively critical about the relationships you have, the career you’ve chosen, your friends, enemies, and more.
We are essentially clearing the clutter in the closet of your mind. It’s Spring cleaning time.
And just like spring cleaning, you’ll pull everything out, handle a few things, trash some others, and then you’ll find that wonky old pair of sneakers – the ones you just can’t bear to part with – at least not yet. And you’ll talk about why it’s hard to let them go, all the reason why they need to stay, and put them back in your closet.
That’s okay. Renaissance doesn’t happen overnight. But see, now you’re AWARE of those tennis shoes, and eventually, your brain will start saying “when are you going to get rid of those old wonky things?” Eventually, you will let go.
So today, clean out the clutter and do the easy work. Find something that you can let go of today – in fact, find a physical, tangible object that you can give away or toss today. It’s usually easiest to part with a physical object, something that makes a symbolic fresh start for you.
Let go. Let God step in and fill that empty space with freshness and newness.
Clearing out clutter and making physical space for yourself is a great way to make a fresh start. What can you let go of today?
If you’re ready to make the leap from Reluctance to Renaissance, join us at The Renaissance Mom Experience this August! this 3-day retreat features amazing mom entrepreneurs sharing their success secrets and giving you the tools you need to find balance in your work and life without apologies or excuses.
When we launched The Renaissance Mom at the beginning of the year, I had no idea what would happen.
Our mission is to help 10,000 mompreneurs and working mothers bring balance to their life and work without apologies or excuses. It was a mission God laid on my heart nearly two years ago to the day.
The journey from there to here has not at all been what I planned nor imagined.
“My ways are not your ways.” says the Lord.
Quite.
In truth, for all the forward motion and “tally-ho!” attitude I bring to my work and my life, I’ve probably been the biggest heel dragger of all when it comes to growing this business.
I never really thought of myself as a “mompreneur” or a “wahm” in the first place. I’ve written before about the negative perceptions people hold about those labels. I, too, held some prejudice about those labels. So much, that I felt compelled to create a new “brand” of working mother – The Renaissance Mom.
Renaissance is about re-birth. Despite any scriptural connotations that might bring to mind, we carefully chose our logo to bring to mind the two most recognizable symbols of rebirth – the phoenix and the cross. Simply put, this company is committed to helping working mothers make the transition from reluctance to renaissance.
Why then, have I been dragging my heels on this business? Several reasons:
It’s not my business. Yes, I’m the founder, and my name is the owner of record. No, it’s not a company in name only. This is God’s business, not mine. Often times, I get up in the morning inspired to take actions so far removed from my comfort zone, I have a hard time doing them. I constantly ask “why” and find myself doing it anyway. Today I met a charming guy at a local ad agency. We talked for more than an hour as he shared generously some ideas to help promote The Renaissance Mom Experience to a more local audience. I went in with no real idea of what to expect. I walked away with so many blessings, I wanted to cry. It’s hard for me to invest myself fully in something that’s not mine. I’ve been burned by other partners in the past, and trust is hard won from me. The silly thing is, if I can’t trust God as my partner, who can I trust?
I like being in control. I like having an agenda that I’ve laid out and can work from. God is more extemporaneous than that – at least with me. And although it bugs me a little, I’m trying to go with His flow. But it’s hard, and sometimes downright frustrating. Letting go is not something that comes easy to me. Particularly when I’m “letting go to let God” so to speak. I have many “other” things to do, and sometimes I think I have better things to do. God and I don’t always see eye to eye. Luckily, He still loves me anyway.
Show me the money. To be frank (perhaps a little too frank), The Renaissance Mom has been entirely funded from the beginning by my other business endeavors. I’m not complaining, just noticing that the company is not profitable, and while I’m doing my best to remain faithful to God’s calling, it would be nice to turn a profit from the work we’re doing to help working moms. Perhaps it’s a bad time to start a company like this, but the demand for what we’re doing has been so overwhelming that we can’t stop now. For an unknown start-up, we’ve had the privilege of helping hundreds of women (and a few men) since January gain more balance and clarity in their lives, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. It’s odd for me to run a company that’s not paying for itself, and if this is the mission God has laid on my heart, then maybe it’s not supposed to be profitable. I haven’t figured that one out yet.
That’s been my journey for the past few months, and through it, I’ve made some tremendous realizations:
God is always in control. That may sound like a “blatantly Christian” thing to say on a blog, but it’s true. Every time we’ve had a need for this event, there’s been a supply. I’ve been shy about giving the glory for it to God, and that ends today. God deserves the glory, because there’s no logical reason that this event should be happening at all, let alone happening successfully. And it is happening successfully. Whoever heard of bootstrapping an entire 3-day conference? God is miraculous and I need to stop dragging my heels telling other people about it.
Business is still business. Partners, sponsors and others connected to the work we do still want to see a return – they want to know what’s in it for them. Having a great idea isn’t good enough. Communicating that idea isn’t good enough. Providing the return makes the difference.
I still have a lot to learn. I’ve never claimed to be anybody’s guru. That’s a role for someone other than me. What I do is connect the dots for people, point them to resources, and hopefully help someone along the way. Very much of my success has been accidental, but now I’m in a position where a significant number of people actually look to me for advice/help. God help us all.
There are other lessons, to be sure, and my own renaissance is ongoing. When you step out in faith in a very public way, there’s bound to be obstacles. I’ve tried to stay low-key for a long time, and it’s just not going to work anymore. You may have already seen the shift, heard the undertones, and wondered what’s going on.
I’ve been pulling together a new approach for clients and folks like you that want to move forward with confidence - out of reluctance and into renaissance. It’s very uncreatively called “30 Days to Renaissance”, and it is my new tool for stopping the heel dragging.
And you can have it free.
In light of my profitability comments earlier, free may be a bad choice, but it’s an e-course, delivered daily to your in-box, so it feels weird to charge you for it. Plus, God said to make it free, so I’m not going to argue with HIM.
If it takes you from Reluctance to Renaissance, please share it with a friend. In the meantime, I’d love to hear your revelations about moving forward in faith in your life and business.
This morning I awoke from a vivid dream wherein I portrayed some kind of crime-fighting super hero. I nearly died because my fatal flaw – my “kryptonite” if you will, was flowers, of all things. And we were battling in a greenhouse.
Goofy, I know, but it got me to thinking about how moms are real-life superheros. And just like our make-believe counterparts, we all have a weakness – some fatal flaw that binds us up and holds us hostage in our lives.
If left unattended, it might even be the end of us.
Of course, I’m taking the idea to the extreme here, but one thing I’ve learned in my coaching over the years is that there’s always something – and it’s usually rooted in fear – that keeps us from putting on our golden arm bands, our lasso of truth, and being the superhero of our own lives.
For me, my business is my Achilles’ heel. I love what I do so much, it can become an addiction for me. I admit that I’m hard-pressed to shut down my computer and walk away from it at dinner time. I feel unproductive when I’m home and NOT working! And yes, I feel that way even when there’s plenty of housework to do that would otherwise keep me occupied.
If I’d let it, my business would be the death of me. There’s always something new, exciting and different going on there. I can connect with new people every day online and grow my business faster and faster every day. I’m an adrenaline junkie of sorts, because it becomes so much fun to watch everything unfold in my business.
It’s also the least important thing I could be focusing on.
In the grand scheme of things, my relationships with family and friends take priority. My spiritual development and my faith take precedence. Or at least they should. And when I’m living life in balance, they do. But when the adrenaline calls, sometimes it becomes incredibly painful to turn off the computer and walk away.
Every SuperMom has a weakness. Yours may be time with your children, or the need for adult conversation – or alone time with your significant other. Maybe you have a fear of success, or a mindset that says you need to sacrifice one area of your life in order to be successful in another. What’s holding you back from seeing the success you deserve in your life?
Until you can identify your weakness, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to defend against. The answer lies within you. Here are a few suggestions to help you tap your inner superhero:
Think about the grand scheme of things. Superman had Lois Lane. Tarzan had Jane. Every superhero has at least one someone in their life that’s more important than the service they provide to humanity. When you come to the end of your life, it’s those people that will remember you. The legacy you leave behind to you loved ones is far more important than any job you could ever do.
Keep the faith. You must believe in something greater than yourself. Whether it’s God, or “truth, justice and the American way”, there’s got to be a bigger mission for the roles you play. As a mom, you’re shaping lives of future generations. As a business owner, it’s got to be about more than just the income.
Have some fun! How many times did Superman take Lois out for a flight? You’ve got these super powers, take some time to use them to enjoy yourself. If you’re not making time to celebrate your success, you’re missing out.
Watch the pennies. If you’re growing a business, be mindful of the money you’re earning. Fun is important, but so is keeping a balanced budget and paying off debt.
Stay healthy. It’s easy to say there’s no time to exercise when your business is booming. There’s always plenty of other things to do that don’t involve exercise. It’s true when people say “if you don’t have your health, you have nothing.” Keep your mind, body and spirit in tip-top-shape by exercising them regularly.
These are just a few suggestions to help you keep your life in balance. When you focus on what’s really important in your life and work, the rest becomes somewhat easier to manage.
Please do not alter it and include the following information (with active links as appropriate):
Founder of The Renaissance Mom, LLC, Lisa Robbin Young is a marketing consultant and business coach for mom entrepreneurs. Her mission is to help women bring balance and peace to their life & work, without apologies. Her website, TheRenaissanceMom.com features free videos, helpful articles, podcasts and other resources to help business moms find more focus, accomplish what’s really important, and keep everything in balance.
The Renaissance Mom Experience is a 3-day live event held each year in the fall. Mompreneurs from across the country come to experience the inspirational speakers and discover hands-on, how-to strategies to build a life and a lifestyle that they truly love. Learn more about the live event at http://www.TheRenaissanceMomExperience.com
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When it comes to creating a Renaissance, you need absolute clarity on what stays and what goes – at least in one area of your life. If we are creating a fresh start, we need a clean slate. That means deciding what stays and what goes.
For me, my business is my Achilles’ heel. I love what I do so much, it can become an addiction for me. I admit that I’m hard-pressed to shut down my computer and walk away from it at dinner time. I feel unproductive when I’m home and NOT working! And yes, I feel that way even when there’s plenty of housework to do that would otherwise keep me occupied.