I have had a few ideas for businesses in the last few years. So far, I haven’t really gotten anywhere with any of them. The reason? Second-guessing myself.
Oh, I’m a master at that.
I’ll get up a head of steam and start working on the new project, sometimes quite diligently. And then, like carbon monoxide undetectably seeping into your brain while you sleep, the second-guessing begins.
That’s a dumb idea.
No one will care about that.
People will think that’s stupid.
Better keep this whole thing to myself or people will think I’m a delusional ass.
It’s too complicated.
It might work, but not until I do X, Y, Z, A, B, C, D, E, F, and Q.
It would be better if I revamped the whole thing.
Life was easier before I started pursuing this. Maybe I should throw the whole thing out the window and go back to the peace of mind I had before (not).
I tell you, this is a disease I have. So when some friends of mine started picking on the name I had come up with (you know the one–Your Business, Your Self), I explained that I couldn’t possibly allow myself to flail around trying to find just the right name and tagline. The idea was ripe and if I didn’t get on it instantly, the second-guessing would start and it would die before it was ever born.
I told them something to the effect of, “Time to hit the road. Just grab some clean underwear and go.”
And so this has become my mantra. Any time I feel that second-guessing starting–which it does several times a day–I remind myself to just grab some clean underwear and go. It helps!
I’m curious, though, what the clean underwear is, metaphorically speaking. What is the one thing I need to bring along on this entrepreneurial blogging trip that equates to having a nice clean pair of panties to change into after a long day on the road?
I’ll be thinking on this and will report back, but I’d love to hear your thoughts. What kind of clean underwear do self-sabotaging entrepreneurs need? Something that makes you feel a tad more comfortable and presentable, and like you’re at least minimally taken care of.
Please comment…or I’ll start to second-guess whether I should have written this!
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Oh, I love that: “Time to hit the road. Just grab some clean underwear and go.” Perfect. I think I’ll print it out and tape it to the top of my monitor.
You have exactly the same dis-ease I have with starting anything. All the doubts and false starts, allowing others to shut us down. I’m so glad you’re sticking with it this time.
As for clean underwear as a metaphor for something you need to bring along: sounds corny but how about simple faith in yourself? That’s what I need to bring, anyway.
Good luck on your journey!
Faith in yourself is definitely a must-have on this trip! Thanks for that, LaVonne.
I’d be a millionaire if I followed up all my good ideas. This is a great blog!!
I read a quote the other day to the effect of, winners act with imperfect plans while losers wait till all their ducks are in a row.
I don’t know what the clean underwear is so I’m tempted to change the mantra to “Just get up and go!” Don’t even pack your panties! You can pick up a new pair on the way.
That said, I think seed money is the one thing I need for the ideas I want to set in motion. Sometime to live on and pay the overhead costs, like a grant or an advance, and then I know I can and will do the rest!
Getting started with imperfect plans is critical, I agree. The path will unfold as you walk it.
Feel free to change the mantra to suit yourself! That’s what a reflective entrepreneur does! (More on that in my next post.)
I think you’ve improved upon it, actually. Who needs panties?
There are so many resources available today–human and otherwise–that you don’t need to be fully prepared or certain in order to get started.
I do like LaVonne’s idea about the underwear being faith in yourself, too. And maybe faith that whatever happens, you can be okay with it.
Feeling financially insecure can certainly create an obstacle. But don’t just wait around for it to go away (I know you’re not). If that’s the stumbling block, then “hitting the road” means getting focused about how to increase your financial resources or make things work in your current circumstances.
Thanks for your input, Miranda. That definitely gives us more to think about.
Thanks for the reminder-by-tweet, Sue.
I needed that. Just thought of a good piece of clean underwear to take for those self-doubt moments: process. That seems to be helping me – focusing on the process.
So true! I was just thinking something similar on my walk this morning. It helps to momentarily put your desired outcome aside and think about what benefits will come even if you don’t achieve that. For me, it’s always personal growth and learning. Just going through the process of working toward whatever the goal is will *always* take you to a new level, even if you fall on your face.
This sounds like the therapy session I just had on Tuesday. I gave her a list of why I was “failing”. A LIST… an honest to goodness LIST of reasons. How sad is that? Most of them come down to me not thinking I’m good enough. I don’t know what that equates to in terms of clean underwear though. I guess “faith in yourself” is the best answer.
But I’ll let you keep your clean underwear. I have my chicken soup. (You’ll have to read my blog to understand.)
How about your coach's phone number?
Great post!
Julia, I think you nailed it!