The Secret to Ease in Your Work (and Life)

It’s a huge secret.

Ready?

Use what you have.

Right here. Right now.

Starting a new project?

A business?

Jumping into the entrepreneurial pool?

Use what you already have.

Anxiety comes from trying to be or offer what you’re not.

And on the heels of that anxiety comes fear of being found out a fraud.

So, don’t go there.

Look at what you have at your disposal.

What are your current skills and trainings?

What do you love?

What could you talk about all day long to someone and never feel drained?

Who do you know? How can your existing community help you?

Keep it simple.

Start where you are.

A few years ago, I was invited to speak at a women’s conference. It wasn’t a paid gig. My marketing mind wanted to create a program or offer to sell at the event. But my heart just wanted to go and speak and enjoy.

So, I went with no agenda…

or stress.

I had no skin in the game, no dog in the race… and any other catchy phrases. So my ego got out of the way and I spoke to the room, sharing what I enjoy.

It was one of the best talks I’ve given.

I felt it and apparently so did the conference organizer because she invited me back the following year as the keynote.

I wrote the content of my talk a year in advance so the event could include it in their marketing.

By the time the event rolled around, I was no longer invested in the material I had written for it. I was, however, fully invested in getting something out of my time there. I had brought books to sell and created a program to market to the conference attendees.

My words felt awkward. The energy was off. Normally, I’d have opened my Spidey senses, read the room and flowed with what I know.

For whatever reason, I decided to live or die by that talk. I pushed through.

The microphone batteries died not once, not twice, but three times!

The Universe tried its best to bail me out but I ignored it and carried on.

It wasn’t a complete failure. There were moments of benefit.

That one talk drained me for days after the conference. Possibly weeks, as the aftertaste coated my tongue.

Lesson?

Use what you have available to you right now.

Know where you are before you try to bring others along.

And maybe leave that clever marketing strategy behind and just show up as you.

After all, you are enough.

 

Do you have a story about when you pushed against the Universe instead of flowed with what you know? I’d love to hear it. Post it in the comments below.