I woke up this morning in a Paris Geller (from Gilmore Girls) kind of mood.
And, I scrapped the blog post I was going to publish in order to film a rant.
Here’s the thing: I’m sick of all the excuses and complaining. I’m over the ‘I can’t ________’ before you even try it.
We’re blessed to live at a time where we can (pretty easily with all things considered) set up our own websites and sell our products and services to people all over the world. And yet, people still find things to complain about: Instagram changed it’s algorithm. Blogging is hard. This tofu tastes like chunky paste. (Is that last one only me?)
You guys…we’ve got it good.
We’ve got the opportunity to literally make our dreams come true with a lot of hard work, a bit of luck and 27,064 cups of coffee.
If you’re feeling sorry for yourself or coming up with excuses on why you can’t start your business or need a push in a positive direction, watch today’s video:
Mentioned in the video:
No video on my screen. Would love to hear!
Hey Karen. I would try refreshing your browser or using a different browser. I haven’t heard from anyone else that they’re having issues, so I don’t know what else it could be. My videos are hosted via Vimeo so you might try watching it straight on there. Here’s the link if you want to try that: https://vimeo.com/168986880
Thanks so much for taking the time to help April! I’m sorry for posting; the problem is definitely at my end. And I tried Vimeo and it crashed. Hopefully I’ll get this ironed out so I can listen — I could use an inspirational kick!
Thank you so much April! That´s it! You are so right!
Your Video is so motivating and awesome! GREAT!
Love it!
YAY! Thanks Monika. 🙂
So true April!! I tell people all the time who are overwhelmed with knitting to just get started and stop being a perfectionist! I wrote about it in the blog post that goes up next week, in fact.
Having an online business is not for anyone who makes excuses or who is a shrinking violet. You just don’t have time to complain or avoid taking action. Do something about the stuff you don’t like and get on with it. Make your best effort every single day, and keep going. That’s the best advice I can give someone! Just do SOMETHING! It’s not always easy, and sometimes you do have to make tough choices about where you spend your time. Especially in the start up phases when there’s just SOOOO much to do all the time. Accept it. And if you can’t accept it, then this might not be for you. It’s not for everybody.
And that’s ok, too!
Definitely. It’s so hard to get out of that perfectionist mindset sometimes. Love the advice about just getting started with knitting.
I had to take my first knitting project (a simple scarf) off the needles and restart a bunch of times before I really got the hang of it and it still ended up with some holes and irregular bits. But, I learned so much from it. And, I stayed up all night knitting that scarf. I remember it like it was yesterday even though it was about 10 years ago. 🙂
Girl you kicked my butt today! Thanks 🙂 I needed that. (PS – You don’t hold a candle to Paris. LOL)
You’re so very welcome.
I should have clarified: Paris in the older years with waaaaaay more compassion and empathy. Hahahahahaha. 🙂
Thanks, April! This is just what I needed to hear today!
I tend to get bogged down in details and research and trying to figure out marketing until it finally just seems as if it’s all too much, and I might as well give up.
Which is really stupid! I’ve got a note taped to my computer that says “Just do it!” So thanks for the push and the reminder that it IS up to me! And I CAN do it.
You can do it! YES!
We’ve all been there…researching and list making until it feels like you’ll never do it all. That’s a terrible feeling. The good news is that I think every entrepreneur has that feeling multiple times while building their businesses so it’s normal. You’re already doing more than most by forging ahead and not giving up.
Thank you so much for this video, April! I have bookmarked it and will play it whenever I feel down and in need of someone to kick my butt. 🙂
You’re so welcome! The totally geeky thing is that I’ll probably come back and watch this for myself on days when I’m feeling down and need a bit of a push. 🙂
Dear Paris, shut up! Just kidding. April, thank you for the kick in the pants today — I needed it. I recently quit my day job and thought I would whip my little business into shape in a month. BUT, I got a bit caught up in analysis paralysis, and have been much slower to take action than I expected. I realized it a couple of days ago and created a to do list and am working through it. No more excuses!
Lovingly, Rory Gilmore
Hahahahahahaha….thanks Rory! 🙂
Congrats on leaving your day job. That’s a huge step.
High five for no more excuses. It can be so easy to fall into analysis paralysis especially when you’re figuring out how to be your own boss. But, you’re doing better than most because you’ve already figured out the problem.
One of the things that I do when I’m having this issue is set deadlines for myself even if I don’t really need a deadline. For instance, setting a deadline for rewriting my about page copy even though I don’t need a set deadline. If I leave it open-ended, I’ll end up taking way too long.
Guilty. What do I complain about?
1) No money and no space. Really. Mr. True Love and I live on about $1000US a month. We’ve lived in tiny bedrooms the whole five years we’ve been married. We did not expect him to get sick soon after we married.
2) Web stuff. It freaks me out. I never seem to understand it. It would actually make me cry like math classes used to. And I haven’t been able to pay anyone to help with it.
3) Why am I making $125 a month after three years solid working on my business? Why can’t I increase sales even when I do “everything” I’m supposed to.
What am I doing to change it.
1) I trained for a new job. I saved so we could rent a share that provided three whole rooms instead of one tiny bedroom only. I have a studio. I can stand in the middle of every room and twirl with my arms outstretched and not run into anything! But because space had limited my studio, I fine tuned my business and it turns out this product is more marketable!
2) I found out I have dyscalculia so I can stop thinking I’m just being dense. There’s a reason I cry over HTML. But I saved from my sales and just hired a local woman-owned business to move my blog to WordPress. It’s in the works now!
3) I am submitting to magazines and blogs – major ones. I am getting paid for most of the projects. I have started wholesaling to local shops. I started teaching what I do online and that has brought more people my way. I also got some help using analytics to discover I may be in the wrong place, using FB rather than Pinterest which is where my target market is. Been working on the boards all week.
People like April have been kind and mentoring and patient and I have learned, bit by bit. There are people who have real issues that are hard and they are trying. And maybe some complaining is okay if you can tease a real question out of it because you don’t know what you don’t know. But if you identify what you don’t know, you can deal with it. And then, as April says, it’s all just choices after that. I choose to keep going.
Thanks April! This is so motivating! Earlier today I read an article by Ashley Ambirge that made me realize I need to stop telling myself I need to do this and that, and the other thing before I can put a product out there for sale. And now I see your video. I think the universe is trying to tell me something.
I’m definitely guilty of complaining I don’t have enough time, but that’s absolutely not true (I may or may not have just watched 4 tv episodes on Netflix, but in my defense I was posting my latest blog post and scheduling my newsletter at the same time ;-), but I really need to cut the complaining and get to work! Thank you, thank you!!
Hahahaha!!! This was the best kick in the pants. A.k.a. Tough love.
I so needed to hear this and I will bookmark this and reply it when I need it!
thank you April!!
P.s. I haven’t watched Gilmore Girls , but now I’m super curious! I foresee some binge watching in my future!!
Yay, go April!!
I live in the UK and I hear the complaining on a daily basis, multiple times. You know what?! If you don’t like the situation, do something about it.
This world we live in offers so many opportunities, and they lead to more opportunities… I just want people to go out and grab some of that good stuff.
Not sure that brief rant was Paris-style, but it worked for me….
I DO NOT COMPLAIN!! EVER!! Okay so that is totally false. LOL We are all looking for that Easy Button these days. I think the internet is an amazing invention that lets us connect with anyone, anywhere in the world. It has helped me get my little voice in my tiny corner of the world out there, into the universe. But it also has so many distractions. Cue the scrolling. And the, but I don’t wanna do the work; but I want the world to think I am amazing. So here I am commenting on another great piece from April, avoiding the writing of my next blog post. But it has got me moving in the “write” direction. Are you sure you don’t have hidden cameras in my house? I guess I’m not the only one with the tv watching, internet scrolling, and the I want a supermodel body but don’t want to get off the couch and eat that vegetable. LOL Thank again April. 🙂
Word! Thanks for always giving it to us straight, April. Sometimes I need a swift kick in the rear to get back on track, and even though I don’t always want to hear it…it’s very much needed.
The victim habit! loved the video, thank you for the rant!
Hello April and thank you for the reminder. I make excuses all the time and then wonder why things don’t progress. Your rant has inspired me to do better and keep going no matter what. Thank you!
Ah ha April you killed it in this video. You must be a kindred spirit. Even though I am very self aware of “victim” behavior I can slip into it without notice. I just had a cast put on my foot and decided it was the perfect time to 1) Take your blog class on CreativeLive 2) Review my business plan 3)Write some blogs 4) Organize, organize organize. This is a lot different from my usual day (creating metal art in a sweaty but blissful shop.) I think we all should have this video go off as our morning alarm……everyday! See ya in the morning lol
THANK YOU!!! This was awesome and great motivation!! I really appreciate your honesty 🙂
Ok, I’m going to say it out loud – I’ve never watched the Gilmor Girls! But I loved the rant. I’ve been there with clients, but at times myself as I rebrand. Sometimes we feel overwhelmed, but maybe that’s the best time to refocus. Thanks, April.