Secrets to Success: Rule #7

Its not always easy to start a business, build a blog readership, or quit your desk job to pursue your hand sewn line of womens clothing full-time. In fact, its almost always quite challenging at times. So, I started a series that tells it like it is”¦the good, the bad, and the completely “˜Girl, I cant believe you went there.” Secrets to success that have been learned along the way. Today, Tiffany will pick up where we left off last time”¦

This contributor post was written by Tiffany Han.

A few months after I started my coaching practice, I held a birthday sale. I offered a special pay-what-you-can session and was FOR SURE that it was going to sell like hotcakes. I hit “send” on my newsletter and then held my breath, waiting for my inbox to blow up with paypal notifications.

…and crickets…

Y’all. Not a single person signed up. At all. All day. I was – quite literally – giving away my services. On my birthday. And nothing.

But I see other people do this all the time, I thought, and it totally works for them.

Cue Secret to Success #7:

Just because other people make it look easy doesn’t mean that it is.

Building a successful business takes time. Like a lot of time.

What we often forget when comparing ourselves to someone we look up to is that there were countless hours, months, years perhaps, leading them to where they are now. Maybe someone just started an art business but spent 15 years working in marketing and PR and has a ton of connections.

Maybe it seems like someone came out of nowhere but she’s been blogging for 7 years and is just now getting noticed.

Maybe it’s best for you to keep your eyes on your own paper when it comes to your business. Try new things? Yes. Get inspiration from what works for other people? Absolutely. BUT having the expectation that something will work for you just like it works for someone else, especially if you’re just starting out, can lead to disappointment and frustration.

And yes, the truth is that any time something doesn’t go well, you will feel disappointment. BUT if you can be gentle with yourself and trust that you’re exactly where you need to be on your own path, that disappointment will not lead you to the place where you abandon your idea altogether because obviouslyit’snotgoingtoworkandmyideawasSOstupid.

Also (bonus secret): At some point, every successful business person has felt the obviouslyit’snotgoingtoworkandmyideawasSOstupid – but they keep moving forward. Always moving forward.

image above via How Joyful (free downloadable print)

Tiffany Han, CPCC is a life & business coach for highly-creative people who arent living the highly-creative lives they want. Just yet. With provocative questions & hard-edged encouragement, Tiffany helps skittish someday-ers become fiercely focused creators “” and proves that dreams do come true. But only when you demand it.

28 comments | Click here to reply

Secrets to Success: Rule #7 http://t.co/YRkB1nMo via @sharethis. This is a GREAT & inspiring article!

Ashanti Baxter (@ashanti_baxter)

Wow, thank you for this. It was so nice to read it, so encouraging.

Judy

Wow what a post….very thought provoking. Thanks.

Julie Gravelle

Secrets to Success: Rule #7 http://t.co/8G4S7X24 via @sharethis

(@little_fever) (@little_fever)

Love this series from @papernstitch: Secrets to Success Rule #7: It’s not always easy to start a business, build a blog http://t.co/UhH313cW

(@CWBusiness) (@CWBusiness)

Secrets to Success: Rule #7 http://t.co/VBGAQGyp via @sharethis

(@scribblesfromem) (@scribblesfromem)

RT @checkmyboxx: Really, REALLY need to remember this sometimes! Secrets to Success: Rule #7 http://t.co/DPpYT7zB via @sharethis

Francesca Stone (@teahab)

Really, REALLY need to remember this sometimes! Secrets to Success: Rule #7 http://t.co/DPpYT7zB via @sharethis

checkmybox (@checkmyboxx)

A breath of fresh air and an inspiration always! Thank so much for the help, advice & support. Especially for those of us who are just about ready for a pity party and get pulled back to reality and turned in the right direction!

Shelly Renfrow Porter

Secrets to Success: Rule #7 | papernstitch http://t.co/H2CB8qGp

modern marks (@modernmarks)

great advice here: Secrets to Success: Rule #7 http://t.co/2Ik0funv via @sharethis

Rufflewood (@Rufflewood)

Secrets to Success: Rule #7 http://t.co/uoWnntXD via @sharethis

(@ccloth) (@ccloth)

Great article! A good reference to all artists out there..

D.U.R.A

Secrets to Success: Rule #7 http://t.co/dcc0umKU #entrepreneurs

Carla York (@carla_york)

Secret to success #7… SO TRUE! http://t.co/MDjCitil

(@felipineiro) (@felipineiro)

Just the thing I needed to read/hear! Thnx!

Featheringtodo

Secrets to Success: Rule #7 http://t.co/eWrYYWgT via @papernstitch

(@abubblylife) (@abubblylife)

Stay Successful! Papernstitch shares another rule in the Secrets to Success series: http://t.co/VCoGyjJq http://t.co/E7q4sUMP

(@IndieMade) (@IndieMade)

Very inspirational! I’m a start up small business owner too and I’m really glad I got the chance to read this. Made my day feel more grounded. 😉

Jamie "ChatterBlossom"

RT @papernstitch: Secrets to Success: Rule #7: It’s not always easy to start a business, build a blog… http://t.co/9JPdpXmG

Dara Pottruck (@rafftruck)

New post is up on @papernstitch all about comparing yourself to other people. I can’t be the only one, right? http://t.co/FMUfJjW7

(@tiffanycmoore) (@tiffanycmoore)

New post is up on @papernstitch all about comparing yourself to other people. I can’t be the only one, right? http://t.co/j1wAm0ql

(@teahousestudio) (@teahousestudio)

That’s very true…!!!… It’s an up and down journey… You have to learn from the positive and negative aspects….as and keep moving forward…because you’ll never know what coulda, woulda, shoulda happened…if you give up….

Meagan

I love this series. Always such great advice!

Casey

RT @papernstitch: Secrets to Success: Rule #7: It’s not always easy to start a business, build a blog… http://t.co/9JPdpXmG

Lollipop Lake Art (@hollymcgee4)

“Cue Secret to Success #7: Just because other people make it look easy doesn’t mean that it is.” http://t.co/kE09gqSe via @papernstitch

(@neawear) (@neawear)

RT @papernstitch: Secrets to Success: Rule #7: It’s not always easy to start a business, build a blog… http://t.co/adr4Km6p

(@neawear) (@neawear)

Secrets to Success: Rule #7: It’s not always easy to start a business, build a blog… http://t.co/9JPdpXmG

(@papernstitch) (@papernstitch)
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