Written by: Canse Karatas, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise
If everything were limitless, what would you choose to do for work? Are you surviving or thriving? Quite often people start a business to find complete freedom doing what they love. From ideas and planning it can feel possible. Taking those first steps. Piece by piece pulling things together. Building a brand. Growing revenue. Feeling proud of every achievement along the way. What is not to love right? Well, there are a lot of things to consider before you take the jump. It is not for everyone and that is okay and some people may even turn back. Also, completely okay. I thought I would share some of my own first-hand experiences along with some of my peers’ reflections on what is behind the scenes of a start-up.
Unanimously everyone agreed that being in control of your own schedule is one of the biggest benefits. However, this does also mean that in that first year especially whilst building the business there are lots of working over hours. It is hard to turn off only leading to burn out when not careful. Another positive is that it can feel empowering: making all your own decisions, not having to explain or follow someone else’s design. Again, difficulties in this can be that decisions can become anxiety provoking. Every decision, through you. Sometimes hard and fast. When they go well great but if not also, on you. Saying that, in times of reflection it is so special to see what you are creating. Feeling this true sense of self and connection to your purpose. In times of stress, along with the lack of stability this can be a trigger button to every single trauma you have experienced. Imposter syndrome is real! Flooding can be common too. Building yourself up is crucial for the process as you have to purge that old version of you. Your business can only grow as much as you are. That pain you feel, you have got to find a way to recycle it and make sacrifices. This journey can be incredibly lonely. Nevertheless, dreams are a gift given to us and when that aligns it is precious.
There are lots of ways to combat some of these difficulties and it really starts with yourself. My first tip is routine routine routine. Factoring in exercise and nutrition is crucial. Self-Care Sunday has got to become your favourite day of the week! Plan ahead for some time off you need the balance. Whatever helps strengthen your mindset has to be part of your rituals be it: journalling, affirmations, reading, blogs, podcasts, documentaries etc. Learning to drown out the noise from previous scripts/conditioning is a superpower. When in doubt look inward with Coaching or Therapy. Find your people but do not expect everyone to get it. Soak up knowledge wherever possible, trading skills or learning but find your own way too. Do not fear a fall and learn from them too. They will happen. Almost all businesses that do not work is through lack of planning. Flexibility is also key as you cannot expect instant results plus sometimes it may take a hundred times of trying a variety of things until you land on the one that works. Stay consistent as well as being real with yourself. The simpler you can keep things the better, do not fix what is not broken. Remember that is what clients or customers want too, a fast and easy service. Try not waste money on unnecessary things, build up because you must have money coming in before it goes out. Do not compare or worry about how everyone else looks, you are doing your own thing.
There are so many positives and negatives to all of this. Likewise, with having a job too. You have to weigh it up for you. This is your life. If your purpose feels intense this may outweigh the overwhelming stress. Maybe the loneliness will swallow you and lead you back to a team in a stable job. Potentially there is an option to create your own team. When you play the long game, you realise that you do not need everything lined up these things are all figureoutable along the way. My biggest learning is that motivation is not always going to be there at the least do one single thing for yourself and one thing to move your business forward every single day. Even a mini thing. Small achievable goals. The big one’s will come you do not have to know how right now. Also, ultimately you have to absolutely believe in yourself, that can waver at times but when everything feels like it is falling apart you must dig really deep and know that you will handle it!
Hopefully, this blog has got you thinking and made you question things. If you feel you would like to explore in more depth, please get in touch for free initial call to help put you at ease and discuss what you would like to get from Therapy.
Canse Karatas, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Canse Karatas, has her own Counselling & Psychotherapy Private Practice. Has 10 years experience working for a range of services with a variety of issues like abuse, anxiety, depression, loneliness, low confidence, schizophrenia, self-harm, suicide and much more. She also worked in a Therapeutic Community which was DBT focused with ladies who have a personality disorder. Canse is Passionate about mental health awareness and actively seeks ways to help people. Her therapeutic influence is from an Integrative Approach mostly linked to Humanistic, Relational & Creative ways of working. Being mixed race she really values diversity and open-mindedness. Canse believes that we all have the resources within us to be the best version of ourselves for the future we deserve.
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