THE STRUGGLE IS REAL - YOU ARE TOO!

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL - YOU ARE TOO! by: Adam Griggs

Do’s and Don’ts…

Coulda, Woulda, and Shoulda….

Regrets and reimaginations, rehash and reinvent.

We spend so much time second-guessing ourselves and worrying about external outcomes or judgment that we are forgetting ourselves and our reasons for what we do.

Getting into business is hard, building business is even harder and for so many of us keeping that momentum to stay in business seems even harder still.

I get it, the struggle is real!

That statement seems to have never been so valid, with the constant changes in business, legal, environment, and technology. All of this paired with the new normal and navigating the uncertain seas of the “right way” of doing business, seems more daunting than inviting.

And yet….We find ourselves chasing the dream of business ownership even still.

I’d like to let you in on a little secret. You’re not alone.

One of the most fundamental experiences I’ve ever had has been sharing in founding a community of contributors and leaders, creating and collaborating against the odds of a pandemic, supply and labor issues, inflation and skyrocketing costs. I think we’re winning, and if you’ll humor me I’d like to share what I believe is the core reason why.

One simple word: Connection

Amidst the doomscrolling and negative news stories that seemed to pour out endlessly, drawing us into the black hole of fear and doubt, there was a small beacon of hope. A light of consistent and positive messaging is being shared as a community of small business owners. It was that light, that confidence, and consistency that first drew us in and really dialed in on the connection.

Community is a hard thing to create, it sort of springs up around you and mirrors and moves with the energy of those around you. People can seemingly always tell when you have ulterior motives, or when you are just going through the motions and doing what you are simply expected to do, all without any real passion or hope for the outcome beyond hitting that number, that milestone, or achieving that next accolade. It gets lonely chasing validation through transactions, and yes business needs to create positive returns but to what cost?

When I was in school studying the psychology behind the human colloquium and the drive to find the meaning in decisions we held a discussion on the value of grief and perspective. Our teacher at the time shared with us a story, illustrated by a former student, about an interaction between Kermit the Frog and his now-passed creator Jim Henson. Kermit found himself questioning his creator, feeling empty as if something was missing, and asked him why he never taught him to cry. The message was powerful and hit me like a ton of bricks and resonates with me still today, you see without sharing the mishaps and

moments of drawdown we cannot truly learn from one another, we cannot find empathy and amidst it all, we have no way of truly enjoying those happy moments if there is no contrast. Without some of the bad, there cannot be good. All of the best stories come with challenges, obstacles, and choices that are difficult but ultimately lead to success in the end.

We get asked often about the R.O.I. on products and services.

Have you ever really thought about what a “return on investment” really means to you and your business lifestyle?

During the past few years, we have watched amazing leaders spring up and take on the torch of hope and achievement.

Sharing in the stories and messages are the committed members celebrating the wins in the moments that matter, together, building and bolstering connection.

As the challenge to stay connected grew, the resilience and respect for the community strengthened and grew in response. Leaders and advisors began sharing their stories, their moments, and believe it or not their obstacles and shortcomings.

Seeing is believing after all, and if we were to only hear about the successes that come after the storm would the story be worth hearing and sharing with others at all let alone ourselves?

Sharing in the now, the moments of triumph paired with messages of resilience, adaptability, and overcoming obstacles more than resonated.

It created a new level of connection and vulnerability that seemed to spring up all around us, seemingly out of nowhere.

Somehow we had truly created a community.

Business and life are meant to be a partnership, we all seek a balance that leads to a meaningful business lifestyle all our own.

Sharing in those struggles, giving in to new perspectives and shared opportunities allow others to feel committed to you while learning and building on their own internal passion for business.

The best return on investment is connection.

The ability to leverage trust, the opportunity to give in to life and fulfillment while pursuing a passion, and more than that, the ability to create and be curious in business in a judgment-free zone. The connection allows us the space to grow, learn, collaborate, and challenge ourselves to create a business lifestyle with meaning.

From Shame-on to Game-on in business.

The struggle is real. You are real. Your dreams are real.

We are all connected and it’s in those committed moments that we are simply one or two steps away from discovering our very own “possible”.

Build your business lifestyle and don’t forget to take some friends with you, remember the best stories are those we can truly share together.

Adam Griggs