Like many procrastinator/perfectionists, I am a planner. I usually operate on two extremes, planning everything within and inch of its life, so much so I usually end up missing the opportunity I was planning for. Or I act extremely impulsively, recklessly abandoning all logic and diving straight into action. As you can imagine both methods typically end in disaster.
Since deciding to become an entrepreneur, I recognized I needed to balance these extremes if I had a snowball’s chance of making my dreams come true. I started researching the best practices of successful people. Side note: While at the time I didn’t realize it, by studying success, talking to and learning from successful people, I was apparently drawing success to me. I started meeting more and more successful, knowledgeable people who were throwing all sorts of helpful advice my way. True, I did pay for some of this knowledge but my contribution was a small investment for the information these ladies, and a couple of gentlemen provided. This is based on the universal law of attraction: What you focus on grows.
But back to the topic at hand: as I read, researched, case studied, and discussed, a few common themes began to surface and then wave at me and then pretty much smack me upside the head until I wrote them down. I call them the Five P’s of Success. Like to hear it? Here it goes:
Pray:
I am not a super religious person; however as a regular member of “Bedside Baptist” I totally understand the importance of spirituality in creating a happy, healthy, and purposeful life (oooh another P perhaps?). Whether it was God, Buddha, or simply “the Universe”, most of the experts I read and spoke to often referred to their spirituality as a key factor in their success. It can be easy to get caught up in the excitement and enthusiasm of a brilliant idea but be sure you incorporate some quiet time in to your schedule to consult your higher power.
Profess:
Make a vision board, write out your dream business or career description! Describe it out loud no matter how silly it may seem! If you don’t have anyone around that you think will support you, say out loud to yourself (and then go find some people, but that’s another blog for another day). Tell yourself out loud as often as you can that you deserve the best. Affirmations create tons of positive energy “Ask and ye shall receive”. More law of attraction stuff. Believe it or not it works!
Plan:
As brilliant or foolproof as you think your goal may be, if you don’t have a solid plan on how to execute it, you don’t have jack. Not only should you have a brief business or career plan that details how you will achieve your goals but also a plan on how to manage your life while you make these dreams come true and maintain your sanity. Honestly, I believe this is part of the reason why many women break through glass ceilings in record time only to realize that they are burnt out and/or have no one to share this beautiful life with. By having a proper plan, you can build in time for work and play, because really what is one without the other?
Proceed:
Quite honestly this can be the hardest part but we just have to start. Do something, anything that will get you one step closer to achieving that goal. All the planning in the world will not protect you from failure so get over that fear and do something (even if its just one thing) measurable on that plan you just created. Commit to just fifteen minutes a day at first as you get over the dread of starting it will be easier to dedicate more and more time.
Push:
Nobody said it was all rainbows, lollipops, and puppies in this life. But as is often repeated at Bedside Baptist, “tests” can become our “testimonies”. One of my case studies/mentors-in-my-head (i.e. people I can’t afford to consult with yet) Shanel Cooper-Sykes, says this “If you get everything you want in this life easily you have a bunch of things, but you have no knowledge. So what happens if you lose everything? You will have no idea how to get it back. There is knowledge in the process.” Trust the process, if it is smooth sailing great, but when you hit the rough waters, do not give up. Keep pushing towards your goal, collect and apply the knowledge you learned as result. Even if you end up shipwrecked, the horribly wonderful thing about life is you can start over at the first “P” a smarter and more experienced sailor.
Post by Tiffany Reddick
Tiffany Reddick is a former mental health therapist transitioning into micro entrepreneurship to pursue her passion for helping young women recognize their inherent fabulousness. She believes in expensive shoes, cheap bath towels, and her ability to save the world and still make it to happy hour on time. Follow her @TiffanylReddick
