Whilst my photo takes me back a little (to a Dale Chihuly exhibition at Kew Gardens in the summer of 2019), the event to which I’m referring below took place last week.
I was talking to a friend about something I’m planning on doing later this year (I have lots of ideas for my business, just not the time at the moment to implement them). I was greeted with some enthusiasm but then came ‘why are you doing it like that?’ It wasn’t the exact question, but you get the gist.
Initially I found myself justifying my decisions, but I realised that 1) it’s my business and 2) it’s my life and I can do what I want! I’m grateful for support and input and I’ll take on board comments, even if I subsequently reject them outright, but ultimately, I have to do what I think is the right thing for me.
It can be so easy to become disheartened when someone bursts our bubbles, I certainly did for a while, but I just wanted to say ‘believe in yourself’ and you’ve got this. Ironically, I’ve been met with enthusiasm and excitement this last week and, rather than focus on that, I went straight to the comment that, whilst well-intentioned, made me question myself.
I’ve decided to thank the nay-sayers, there will always be some, and instead concentrate on what I believe is the right thing for me and my business. I have one life and I’m going to make sure I spend the rest of it going after what I want and having the courage to do that.
I’m not always going to get it right, but if I don’t try, I’ll never know. The next time you’re with someone who threatens to burst your bubble, be grateful that they care enough to give you their opinion and then move on and focus on what you’re doing, because the world needs people who try and try again.