Startups are fun. They're full of promise, exciting new learning curves and your days are spent dodging expensive courses online while highly talented people sell systems and software that slowly eat your budget. Until I started hitting Google for fixes to my brand-new problems, I never realised how much stuff there is for sale on the internet for $9.99 a month.
I found myself in overwhelm. Between my full-time job, building a website, writing a manuscript, parenting and launching an eBook -- I'm afraid to say I recently spent a weekend in complete, unproductive overwhelm. It took a business coach to shake me back on course and not only remind me to get a grip, but show me how.
I managed to build my own road-map and get back on track, with refined goals and a streamlined vision. (And AdBlock.)
I learned I can't do everything at once. This mildly contradicts my learnings from about two business coaches ago, when I discovered there are FAR more hours in the day than I ever realised.
So unless you want to hit me up for the names of my coaches, let me just hack your life and I'll share my knowledge for free. Repeat after me.
1. Share your skills in abundance.
Have the confidence your generosity will be repaid. The universe is waiting for you to ask for help when you need it. (Well, more often than you'd think.)
Give someone free coaching. You don't need to be a 'coach' to share your skills. Jump on Facebook and connect with people in your niche. There are over a 620 million Facebook groups -- you'll find at least one you like. Jump on event websites, head to some startup workshops in your area. Find some people who have skills you lack and people you know you can help. Shout them a coffee. Connect someone with a group you know they'd benefit from. Start your own Mastermind group. Offer your services when you're in abundance -- some of those people will support you back when you're in need of it and reach out.
Have the confidence your generosity will be repaid.
2: Sort out your home life.
Google Dave Ramsey for debt, KonMari Method for clutter and hit up Pinterest or Google for everything else. A home life that's under control and is well-planned frees up brain space for what's important.
"Does this spark joy? No? Get rid of it." -- KonMari
3: Get Evernote.
If you're like 99 percent of humans and get overwhelmed from knowledge overload, get Evernote and dump your tips in a new Notebook. Don't overcomplicate it and create a bunch of notebooks unless you have the time to be super-organised. Just use the default one and hashtag every note so you can find it again. I'm super original. I hashtag all mine as 'Ideas'.
4: Find one stressor and find a way to cut it dead.
Delegate it, drop it or do it. Today. Start with the smallest blocker you keep butting heads with, and snowball your energies into your bigger stressors. This may contradict everything you've been taught about tackling the largest problems first. Remember, we're not talking about high-impact stuff here. We're talking about the minutiae that gets you bogged down, keeps you up at night and keeps whispering over the top of your creative streak.
5: Good ideas are GREAT. Now let them go.
Having them regularly makes you awesome. It doesn't mean you have to implement them all instantly. Or ever. Acknowledge them for what they are, and have the grace to let them go when needed. If they're good enough, they'll come back.
And if they don't come back... well, you've saved them in Evernote. Once you're clutter free and in your streamlined startup zone, I'm sure you'll find them again.
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