CharlieKenny.me

One of the great things I’ve learned whilst working for myself, and I’ve learned a lot of really great stuff … is that I wasn’t really going to be happy until I accepted the idea that I couldn’t be all things to all people …

It wasn’t until I embraced my own fallibility that I began to enjoy my career.

The turn-around took almost ten years, even with ‘bags of’ blind enthusiasm. During the early days of self-employment, my plans were BIG. Dreams were BIGGER … the expectation of reward were grander still. My success was reliant very much on past faithful prospects becoming customers overnight. It was exciting times; the optimism drove me on toward success.

I was soon to find out that ‘success’ wasn’t to be so simple. Not everyone wished to change and align with my thoughts – even in my brave new world! Some of my prospects were comfortable with existing long-term service providers. For others my ambitious plans fell on deaf ears. Change it seems, was too risky, not a good idea at the time.

The fact was, I had to admit I was looking to run before I could walk. My old friends enjoyed the stability I was once a part of. Why should they drop everything and join me? Yes, we were friends, although now, I needed to prove my worth, my value if I was to succeed when convincing others to invest in me alone.

Eventually I succumbed to apathy and accepted that my plans of world domination sucked. 

Did I give up? No, not quite. I lowered my horizons, bringing the desired target a little closer. The reality of success became more visible.

Today? Through the benefit of experience, I’ve found that if I visualise my dreams, the journey and break it down, draw a picture, life is easy. I’ve also accepted that bite size ‘wins,’ however small they may be … achieved through strategy, with less stress … are wins nonetheless,

We all have our routines. For me, the pursuit of marginal gains has given me an appreciation of the important stuff. I value what I have, more time with family and friends, all in all, I am more content.

The magic is, this new found contentment has helped in other ways. In business I’m now finding people come to me for advice as I’m not selling anything other than my experience.

By learning to appreciate what I have … as opposed to what I want. By simplifying the task in hand, I’m far happier and, isn’t that what people want? Happiness?

Reputations sell.

People buy from people they know, trust and who are comfortable in their shoes.