Veruca Salt Ain’t Got Nothing On Me: 4 Tips to Get Over Your Patience-Challenged Self

In a world where you can order food, clothing, education, and people online (or on your phone) with the touch of a button or a swipe to the right and have them appear within minutes, it’s no wonder we can get a sense of urgency about EVERYTHING.

If patience is a virtue, then we’re doomed.

But when I was growing up, I was taught that the things in life worth having were things that took time and effort. Do you see my dilemma?

Even though like Veruka Salt of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory “I want it and I want it NOW,” I also know it takes time and effort to get it. And that once we set our intention and our goal, our work has really just begun. The universe will continually test us to make sure we really want it.

This certainly could not have been truer during my recent re-branding process.

Luckily, in addition to some really great tools for shifting my thinking and my mood, I also have a great support system of friends, colleagues, and a kick-ass coach who all know about my restless nature and instead of allowing me to wallow in it help me learn from it.

So if you are patience-challenged, like me, when going after your big juicy dreams (in business OR in life), then these tips may be just what you need to GET OVER YOURSELF and muster up the strength to keep moving forward toward greatness:

1. Define your success. Nothing unleashes the green-eyed monster of envy faster than a skewed sense of success. In traditional business, success is often equated with money. But not everyone measures success that way. For me, success if about getting out of my comfort zone, being more visible, speaking my truth, and making an impact.
2. Don’t compare yourself to others. We all can fall prey to the comparison trap. But we have to remember that what we see on the outside is rarely what’s happening on the inside. I cannot tell you how many colleagues of mine have had the same experience as me of taking their business to the next level and having their personal lives fall to pieces concurrently. But on the outside, all others see is the prettiness of the business growth. When you find yourself wishing you had what others had, realize you’re not only wising for the good stuff, but the not so good stuff.
3. Align yourself with what you want (not what you don’t). It’s amazing how much we focus on what we DON’T want. I catch myself doing that and nip it in the bud as quickly as possible. If what we focus on is what we create, then why (oh, why) would we want to focus on anything but what we want?
4. Don’t quit before the miracle. Setbacks are part of the deal. The path from where you are now to where you want to be is NOT a straight, perfect line. It’s a curvy, jagged, winding road with detours, potholes, and inclement weather. The real work isn’t about getting to the end, it’s about managing all the crap that came up in the process of getting there.

If we got what we want immediately all the time, I truly believe we wouldn’t really appreciate it. The lessons and challenges we have along the way teach us so much and allow us the opportunity to really appreciate what we have.

So, move over you Verucas of the world. It’s time to actually put in the time and effort to get what you want. You’ll be soooo glad you did!

Got anything to share about your patience challenges and how you’ve dealt with them? Leave a comment below.

Meanwhile enjoy this blast from the past, Miss Veruca in action…

Listen to StevieAnne Petitt’s “Get Out of Your Own Damn Way Story” on August 27, 2015

Join me as I interview StevieAnne Petitt on Thursday, August 27, as part of the Get Out of Your Own Damn Way Jam Sessions. Powerful people sharing powerful stories of how they tamed their fears, embraced their greatness, and got out of their own damn way. Sign up to listen in for free by entering your name and email below.

[color-box]Thursday, August 27, 2015, 11:00AM PST / 2:00PM EST

StevieAnne Petitt | begin-being.com

As a Conscious Comedian and Published Author, StevieAnne Petitt takes a comedic approach to conscious living, empowering others to live prosperously in their passion and purpose, while “Lightening up Enlightenment”. A former group home and state-owned youth, StevieAnne is especially passionate about mentoring youth and encouraging them to live as the Greatest Expression of Self.

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Don’t worry if you miss the live interview. Sign up to get free access to the recording.

Breathe Away Stress

Breathing is something we do (and don’t do) without even thinking about it. Anytime you do something on auto-pilot, there’s a chance you could be missing something.

Take a moment now to focus in on your breath. What do you notice? Is your breathing long, deep, and slow? Or more short, shallow, and fast? Are you holding your breath? If you are experiencing any stress, chances are you are taking short, shallow breaths. And if you experience stress often, you likely breathe this way most of the time without even realizing it. This means your body and brain aren’t getting the oxygen they need to adequately respond to stress.

But taking time to be aware of and adjust your breathing is important for other reasons besides managing stress. Our breath supports us in our emotional, physical, and spiritual health. When faced with any kind of challenge, be sure that your breathing will be affected. Have you ever caught yourself holding your breath when getting bad news or watching a scary movie?

Here are some tips to change things up a bit and bring some awareness to your breathing so you can manage that stress:

• If you notice you are breathing shallow, focus on taking long, deep breaths to fill up your lungs.
• Make sure you breathe all the way out.
• Set a timer for 5 minutes and continue to focus on your breathing during that time.
• Set a reminder to focus on your breathing several times throughout the day.
• Focus on a word as you breathe in (such as calm, peace, love, etc.)
• Focus on releasing any tension in your body as you breathe out.

The best time to practice new breathing techniques (or any new techniques for that matter) is during times of low stress so that your body can get used to something new. The more you practice, the easier it will be to use these new techniques when you really need them.

For even more great breathing tips, check out the Back to Balance Meditations, Volume 1: Using the Breath.

Getting Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable

In the months of my re-branding process (and even in the months leading up to it), I’ve had a creative surge. But most of my ideas aren’t really new. THANK GOODNESS!!

As part of me getting clearer about who I am and what I stand for, I’ve been able to embrace projects that have been abandoned over the years. I’m no stranger to branding. This is my third time to the rodeo in four years. But what’s so different this time around is that I’m deadest on bringing anything I’ve created that involves the theme of GETTING OUT OF YOUR OWN DAMN WAY to light.

No more hiding. No more abandoning my babies. No more excuses.

Nope. It’s ride or die time.

Several years ago when I began imagining my dream business, I thought of all the ways I could help people using all my talents, skills, and passions. The list was LONG, and got longer.

Us creative types can get a bit sidetracked and overwhelmed. Coming up with ideas is never the problem. The problem is in finishing them. And that’s exactly where I got stuck.

Yet I didn’t get stuck in places I expected to get stuck, like in how to get things done. The how is the easy part. How involves processes, technology, resources, and systems. I know a heck of a little about a lot of things and can usually find my way through the “how” stuckness. If not, that’s what virtual assistants and other techies are for.

No I got stuck in the why part. This is the trickier part, the part that brings up the inner critic and the ugly fear monster that whispers very unsweet nothings in your ear like:

• Who do you think you are to bring your work into the world
• Nobody wants to hear what you have to say
• You’re not perfect, so you’re a fraud

DAMN those fearful thoughts!

But part of the re-branding process for me has been learning to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Shocker. This is a phrase I use with my clients all the time. And now the tables turned. In order to bring my vision to light, I had to come to terms with the absolute and undeniable FACT that things were gonna get downright uncomfortable, meaning the inner voices of self-doubt and fear were going to get friggin’ loud.

As I braced myself for the onslaught of negativity, something strange happened. It didn’t really come. At least not as roaring and loud as I had anticipated. What happened is that while roadblocks occurred, my inner love-bug kicked in telling me things like:

• You’re amazing
• You’ve got this
• Keep going
• You’re almost there

And you know what? I listened. I’m in my 9^th month of amazing-ness. Projects are getting finished left and right. New connections are being made. New opportunities are presenting themselves. My speaking calendar has never been so booked. And more and more people are knocking down the door to work with me.

So when I talk about using fear as a catalyst rather than a crutch, I know of what I speak cause I’ve totally lived it. It is possible to tame that fear and use it to propel you forward into some amazing results.

How are you taming YOUR fear? Leave a comment below.

Photo: Performing Female Contortionist — Image by © Bernd Vogel/Corbis

Listen to Karen Trepte’s “Get Out of Your Own Damn Way Story” on August 20, 2015

Join me as I interview Karen Trepte on Thursday, August 20, as part of the Get Out of Your Own Damn Way Jam Sessions. Powerful people sharing powerful stories of how they tamed their fears, embraced their greatness, and got out of their own damn way. Sign up to listen in for free by entering your name and email below.

[color-box]Thursday, August 20, 2015, 11:00AM PST / 2:00PM EST

Karen Trepte | www.gaijinworkscoaching.com

Karen Trepte is an Intuitive Business Coach for entrepreneurs with big hearts and even bigger dreams. Her super power is turning soul whispers into business brilliance and translating confusion into clarity. She learned the ropes by starting numerous successful businesses including a flower shop and multiple MLMs. She even used to carry her daughter on her back to sales calls! Karen’s motto is “Work is joy.”

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Don’t worry if you miss the live interview. Sign up to get free access to the recording.

5 Things You Must Do to Re-Brand Your Heart-Centered Business (And Your Life) Without Losing Your Friggin’ Mind

In my recent article, It’s a Re-Brand: How My Business Baby Done Got Borned, I spilled the beans on the birthing process for my new business brand, Get Out of Your Own Damn Way. The journey has been filled with ups and downs, breakdowns and breakthroughs, pain, joy, and FEAR.

In other words, it’s been just like life.

Yeah, there’s no escaping the fact that my business is an extension of who I am. That’s what heart-centered business owners are like. We live and breathe our business, because our business reflects who we are and what we stand for. We have HUGE, ginormous visions and missions to fill. That means my tribe gets to be on my journey with me, and I wouldn’t have it any other way (as scary as it is to be open and exposed in some of my most vulnerable moments).

Of course, there are lessons along the way. Detours. Wrong turns. Missed exits. Unexpected gems. And plenty of opportunities to walk my talk. I love the idea of helping others along their journey, even if I’m only a couple steps ahead at times. I believe we all have something to learn from each other.

So what have I learned along my re-brand journey? Honey, there ain’t enough space here for it all. But there’s some pretty major lessons that have popped out that I want to share…because they are truly LIFE lessons.

1. Get crystal clear on who you are and what you stand for. Any marketing expert will tell you that you need to be clear before you embark on branding. It’s basic stuff. But reading it or being told it is completely COMPLETELY different than living it. I thought I was clear before…twice. But when I’m being really honest, I wasn’t. I was dabbling in some different markets trying to fit them together like puzzle pieces from different puzzles. That came across in everything – my writing, my marketing, and my offers. And it certainly affected my bottom line. One of the best things I did for my business is DO THE WORK of getting clear about who I am and what I stand for.

2. Ask for help. Simply stated, but for the workaholic super woman who is used to doing everything on her own, not so simply done. Just because I CAN do most everything in my business doesn’t mean I should. There’s a certain finesse to learning to delegate. It requires letting go and trusting. Then course correcting as needed.

3. Let things percolate…but not forever. One of the wonderful things about being a creative entrepreneur is that I never have a lack of ideas. I’ve got ideas for books, programs, workshops, products, services, music, marketing, podcasts, etc. But I also suffer from what many business owners do, and that’s perfectionism. I hate putting my work out into the world without it being beautiful. The downfall is I’ve kept a lot of my ideas under wraps for years. NO MORE. I’ve finished more unfinished projects in the last several months than ever before. My mantra is “done is better than perfect.”

4. Act before you think yourself out of it. Entrepreneurs are natural risk-takers. However, we too (just like everyone else) can fall into the “analysis-paralysis” trap of over-thinking and under-acting. It’s easy to come up with reasons why something won’t work because of X, Y, and Z. But here’s a little secret – NOTHING ever turns out exactly the way we expect. So why not just get started, now, right where you’re at. There’s always room for reflection and changing course. What there’s NOT room for (if you want to fulfill your big n’ delicious dreams) is procrastination. Just get out there and DO SOMETHING.

5. Tantrums are expected, normal, and productive (if done right). It’s okay to be disappointed, frustrated, and downright ANGRY when things happen that are beyond your control. Curveballs are everywhere. But they’re not a sign to give up, they’re a sign to modify. Not one thing I planned for happened the way I anticipated during my re-brand. Technical issues, miscommunication with team members, unexpected expenses, you name it. I had moments, hours, and sometimes days when I was IN IT, grumpy, and OVER IT. But I allowed myself to yell, cry, vent, and walk away when needed to maintain my sanity. And then I got back to work having cleared my inner child’s need to throw a tantrum.

Because I’m not able to completely separate my business from my life, these are lessons that spill over into other areas as well – relationships, dating, parenting, etc. You can be sure that my life didn’t stop during my re-brand process (and actually blew up a little in some areas) and I had plenty of opportunities to put my ninja healing skills to the test in my personal life as well.

What are YOU doing to keep from losing your mind in the midst of personal and professional change? Leave a comment below.