Do This One Thing First

When I first started as an entrepreneur, I almost missed doing this one thing first.

I was lucky to be exposed to the idea of personal development in the first year as a franchise owner. It was so foreign to me, especially at the age of 24 when all I thought about was trying to get ahead. 

My days were spent working and building a business, so this did not even enter my mind.

Since that time, I have been working on myself, always learning and growing to better myself as a leader. And, let me tell you, it doesn’t happen overnight! 

But I do know this – if you don’t continue to work on yourself you’ll always get in your own way. 

How about you?  Are you doing things that prevent you from achieving more?

I doubted myself, questioned what I was doing, talked myself out of things, sat back and didn’t take the initiative many times in my life and career.  

This was definitely the case, when I went into entrepreneurship again to start my home based business and when I started investing in real estate.

They both seemed so risky to me and I had a hard time envisioning the possibilities for me to achieve my dreams and desires.

We all have had moments like this where we have allowed ourselves to get in our own way!

So I have learned that in order to move forward and not be in the way of myself, I have to focus on doing this one thing first.

What is it?  

It’s actually so simple that we can miss it – I have to lead myself, first.

Yes, lead myself!

What does that mean? Frankly, it means a lot of things.  

And although the concept is simple, leading yourself is not. You have to motivate yourself constantly to lead yourself!

It really means sitting back and looking at yourself from the outside, from a third person perspective. What is good, what is not so good, and what is missing. What needs work?

It means working on yourself, developing yourself, addressing shortfalls.

It means realizing that you can’t expect or demand others to do things you are not doing.  If you are not prepared to get your hands dirty, then your team members certainly won’t.

It means being the leader you want to have on your team. In other words, be the example, the leader that you would follow.  

And be that leader every day.

It means overcoming your fears, limiting beliefs and self doubts.  

Why? Because these are the things that are getting in the way and holding you back from being true to yourself, and from being the leader you want to be.

So this is why you need to do this one thing first.   

Lead yourself first and follow your lead. Then everything else will fall into place.

“Lead me, follow me or get the hell out of my way.” – General George S. Patton

What are your challenges on this subject?

I invite you to talk more about it and take advantage of my free coaching call. Click here to book a time.