First steps are often the hardest
(but I think they’re the best)…
Let me tell you, since August I’ve had a HUGE mindset shift. Baby steps are taking priority over perfectionism and all-consuming bigger-picture thinking, and a hike up to Cat Bells summed this up beautifully.
For a bit of context…
You know when you find those places that truly feel like home? They grip your heart so much so that it aches terribly to leave. For me and my partner, that’s Keswick.
As much as we want to be embraced in the comfort of our cosy cottage, we’ve got a bit of a thing for being outdoors in the fells of the Lake District. For me this love story started yonks ago. It’s always been a place I love, but… this time was different. And, do you know what I think it is?
Having my own copywriting business. I’m finally free.
No Sunday scaries, worrying about a team – nope. It’s a thing of the past. I found that I actually took the time to take in my surroundings, my brain wasn’t running at 100mph, and if it was it was spurring creative ideas for Just Custard Copy – which I am here for!
Not looking too far ahead…
Can I tell you one of the things I took away from my lil trip? At the risk of sounding cliché, as much as bigger picture thinking is pretty flippin’ important, it’s the small steps that have been my spurriers.
Since starting my business, I’m healthier, happier, and more honest with myself.
Starting the ascend to Cat Bells I was feeling pretty good, then I looked up. I’ve been up this peak I cannot tell you how many times, and it still felt pretty daunting. So much so that the ‘do I really want to climb this!?’ thought flashed through my mind. Pfft. I dismissed her, and started to climb.
Taking first steps
For my chaotic mind, a new thing I do is break down the project into smaller tasks, and achieve my goal a lot quicker (and is much less painful).
One step at a time.
Every so often I’d stop for a breather and a look back at how far I’d come, the sweaty mess that I was, taking in the beauty of the giants of the Lake District.
We continue…
Before you know it, you’re two-thirds of the way up and what did I have to show for it? (Other than calves that BURNED 😂), a cheeky double rainbow! Who’d have thought?
It was so beautiful, and past the view of the lake with a scatter of clouds, were the steps I’d climbed to reach this point. Plus, a little friend, a crow, followed us up the second half of the peak – which was mighty cute.
Time to appreciate
Enjoy the experience of building your business, reflect from time to time, and give yourself a pat on the back my friend.
Even though I reached this point, the steps… kept stepping. Appa spurred me along with looks of encouragement from the tippity top of the peak, and before I knew it, we’d made it.
The. View. Was. INCREDIBLE.
But the best part? Just doing the thing. Taking the first steps, sure I was a hot mess (literally), and offered snotty hellos to passersby – did they care? They did not.
Do the thing.
What’s the moral of this story when it comes to your business I hear you ask? Take the first steps, the bigger picture will come. Have people around you to support, and give you a nudge of encouragement along the way.
Until next time,
Hols ~ The Cottage Core Copywriter x
