Today we’re talking about what my first 3 months of self employment were REALLY like so that I can help you avoid some of these pitfalls that I encountered
In our last pep talk, we talked about how I didn’t believe that I needed a plan, I believed that I needed more time, and that’s why I still felt like my first 3 months of self-employment felt just as chaotic as when I was side hustling.
I also think I was resisting planning because I wanted FREEDOM.
But To me, freedom is more than just being able to do what I want when I want – it’s having a sense of calmness. Of relief, even.
So to have relief, I can’t be up against the wire all the time when it comes to meeting the deadlines I set. I want to be ahead. And in order to be ahead, I have to have a plan.
So what I discovered is that FREEDOM TAKES PLANNING AND CONSISTENCY
A plan creates relief. All of the decisions are already made. I LOVE having decisions made for me. That’s why I use meal delivery services like Blue Apron and HelloFresh. Not only for the time savings but because I don’t have to DECIDE. The box shows up, and that’s what we’re having for dinner, end of story.
So if I can take three hours and make all of the decisions for the next three months, that’s relief. That’s almost like having someone do it for me, right? Shannon From 3 Months Ago already took care of all of this!
But if Present-Day Shannon is not following the plan, then none of this will work. And it takes discipline and consistency to follow the plan
Historically, I haven’t been great at either of those. In those first few weeks of self-employment, I had pretty much no consistent schedule. Again… chaos and winging it.
I just need to get ahead a little bit, and then I can make a plan.
No… make the plan, put in the time to get ahead in the plan, and then follow the plan. And the relief and calm are built right in. Shannon From 3 Months Ago took care of all of it.
When I got back from Social Media Marketing World in early March, I made a decision that I was going to get on the treadmill first thing after I got up in the morning. Even if I only spent five minutes on the thing, I was getting my shoes on, going to the basement, and doing it. And, yes, there were days that I stayed in bed longer because I was procrastinating, and other days where I stopped after ten minutes – but I did it. And now it feels like a habit. Like brushing my teeth in between blow drying my hair and running the flat iron over it.
Oh, this is what consistency feels like.
Not winging it, not fitting it in, just doing it.
Now, I have an actual plan, I know when I’m doing what, and I’ve made the decision that I’m going to DO IT.
SO HERE’S THE BEST PART OF ALL OF THESE DISCOVERIES:
I look back at everything I was able to accomplish while operating in chaos and stress with barely a plan, and I think WOW. I was able to quit my day job and hit my revenue targets in my first three months operating like that.
I can’t wait to see what I’m able to accomplish now that I’m dialing in my plan and executing it with consistency.
I can’t wait to find out what other beliefs I have that are holding me back from everything I want. And I can’t wait to share with you my discoveries all along the way so that maybe I can be the person helps you change what you believe so you can have everything you want too!
Today’s pep talk is brought to you by Bluehost. Go to www.shannonmattern.com/bluehost and get 36 months of web hosting for just $2.95 a month. That’s less than one trip to Starbucks a month – and if you’re anything like me, you’re at Starbucks more than that!
Then you can sign up for my Free 5 Day Website Challenge at www.shannonmattern.com/5day and I’ll show you step by step how to get started building your new website for your side hustle.
