Lessons from a Western Kentucky Drive Pt. 2

In the last installment, we looked at the concept of “Don’t fear where the road may take you” by asking the questions of why we second guess ourselves and sometimes block our own path. We came to an understanding that instead, we must rely on our instincts, prayer, and knowledge to understand the correct path we should take. Then, we explored how “Speed limits are there for your safety, not just to constrain you.” What we learned is that going at a breakneck pace and trying to finish everything as fast as you can, can get to the point it is unhealthy. Sometimes, it takes unplugging to realize how you needed a break from the overstimulated mindset that pace leads to. Next, we saw how “Refreshment can be found in random places.” We discovered that sometimes, life in business can go through drought periods where you wonder, “Will I get another sale?” or “Am I good enough to do this?” It is times like these that the analogy of the water tower comes into play. Without that refreshing aspect, you can find yourself digging deeper and deeper into a mess and sabotaging your business without even trying. As the sign above shows, no U-turns are allowed in some parts of life. You have to keep pushing and clawing until you reach your destination, regardless of the obstacles that may land in your way. This leads us into this next installment and some of the topics you will learn about.

In this installment, we will discuss how “Falling rock can block your path, but usually not for long.” Then, we will examine why “Sometimes you must exit and take a break.” And we will also inspect why this concept is important, “Don’t be afraid to stand alone when necessary.” Finally, we will discern what it means by “The trail that takes you off the beaten path can lead to indescribable beauty.” So, it is time again to take the road ahead and we will begin by jumping into “Falling rock can block your path, but usually not for long.”

Lesson #4: Falling rock can block your path, but usually not for long.

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When rock falls from a bluff beside a road, it can leave a mess that is impossible to pass. In business, we sometimes have obstacles that can seem like a rockslide blocking our path. We feel stuck and unable to move ahead. However, it is not long before we discover that the rocks are moved and out of our way. While we were waiting, we may have gotten frustrated at the stagnant state of affairs. But all our frustration and irritation did nothing to resolve the situation. At times, it can make things worse by us taking that frustration out on the wrong people.

Once the rockslide is gone and cleared away, we can see the path ahead again and we start to make forward progress again. We have forgotten the irritation and frustration from the previous time. However, if you took that out on someone, did they forget? It is time to humble yourself and make amends with the people you may have inadvertently hurt. It is then that you can take the path ahead with a clear mind and conscience, making good progress again. Once you follow that path until you are exhausted, you will find the next piece of advice helpful. “Sometimes you must exit and take a break.”

Lesson #5: Sometimes you must exit and take a break.

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But why do I need to stop if I am making good progress? If you do not take time to exit from the rat race or the beaten path and take a break, you will burn out. You will find that the longer you keep going without stopping, the less productive you will be. Exiting from the road and taking that break will refresh your mind and body and you will have the energy and mental stamina to continue with your journey once you rest.

This is especially important for small business owners that are just getting started. There are times when you feel like you are being pulled 500 ways and things will never get done unless you do them yourself. Going into business is hard, but it is essential to take care of yourself during this process. When I first started Bluedobie, I was pulling 12–14-hour days regularly because it was literally just me. I did not believe I could stop and rest because I was on a deadline to get my business open in a month. I was exhausted and almost burned out before I really got started. It honestly took my husband looking at me and telling me that if I did not take some time, it was going to cost me my mental stamina and ability.

At that point, I took a break. I took a weekend to try and stay away from social media and my business in general. I did not always succeed, but I was not working 12-14-hour days and it helped. I realized then that I needed to make this a regular occurrence, just taking some time for myself. Please don’t find yourself in that same trap. Let the image above be a reminder to exit and take time for you. You will thank me for it. Once you are refreshed from your break, you will find there are times that the next lesson is fitting. “Don’t be afraid to stand alone when necessary.”

Lesson #6: Don’t be afraid to stand alone when necessary.

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How many times have you been in a situation where you felt all alone in your plans, your goals, your dreams? Probably more times than you can count. In this world of social media, we find ourselves judging ourselves based on how many likes, follows and shares or retweets that we receive. Some authors on here may even judge the quality of their writing based on how many claps they receive, or how many reads they get. It is time to break free of that mindset and throw off the chains of needing that validation from others. Like the tree in the picture above, we can stand alone when we need to. We can have faith in ourselves and look to ourselves for validation, rather than believing what anyone else says.

If you are a small business owner, or aspire to be one, people may come along that doubt you and believe that you will never make it. I saw a post on Facebook today that is so fitting for this.

This post is a reminder to all of us, it does not matter what anyone says about your business, if you continue to put in the work and promote what you are passionate about, people are watching and will begin to believe in you. It just honestly takes that time of standing on your own two feet without others supporting you for people to realize that you are truly serious and can do what you set out to do. This leads me to my final point, #7, “The trail that takes you off the beaten path can lead to indescribable beauty.”

Lesson #7: The trail that takes you off the beaten path can lead to indescribable beauty.

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At some point in your journey, you may look around and wonder, “How did I get here?” You will realize that you have exited your original highway and may be off the beaten path. This bridge reminds me of this concept. It is way off the beaten path, it is rough, yet sturdy. I drove my car across this bridge as I followed my husband’s bike race. I was actually terrified to drive across this, believing it was not very stable.

At times, your journey may be like this bridge, out of the way, a little shaky and scary. However, the beauty you may find on the other side of this excursion makes it worth the fear. You just have to overcome that fear and remember, no U-turns. That’s not to say that you should never take a U-turn if you truly believe you are making a mistake and cannot reconcile with continuing on the same path. However, if you can make things work and keep pushing, by all means, continue on the rough path. The work you put into this makes the beauty and joy all worth it in the end.

I am so glad we have taken this journey together, through highways and back roads. We have discovered why sometimes it is good to not take a U-turn and where to find refreshment and rest along the way. We have discussed overcoming obstacles and standing alone. All of these things are part of the journey through small business ownership and life. I hope you will join me again as we discuss life and being a business owner.

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