The Enough Revolution: Escaping the Pitfalls of the More Culture & Redifining Success In Your Life & Business
I wanted to talk to you about something that I believe many entrepreneurs can relate to—the pressure we feel from the culture of "MORE." It's everywhere, especially on social media. We're overloaded with messages urging us to constantly increase revenue, gain more followers, and expand our offerings. We're constantly bombarded with "hacks and "tips" on how to make more money and grow our business. The pursuit of more can be exhausting and overwhelming.
But here's the thing: more isn't always better. It's important to shift our focus from constantly striving for more and instead find what is "enough" for us and our businesses.
Think about it. By embracing the concept of "enough," we can discover greater satisfaction and joy in our work as entrepreneurs. We can build sustainable businesses that align with our values and goals, instead of constantly chasing after the next big thing.
Raise your hand if you’ve been personally victimized by the "more" mindset 🙋🏻♀️
- You are trying to "scale" your business by overextending yourself, doing more marketing, taking on more clients, growing more followers, and creating more offers; maybe you're even considering hiring more people.
- You have ginormous revenue goals that feel miles away from where you are now
- Your calendar is jam-packed, leaving little room for breathing space
- You constantly feel overwhelmed by the never-ending tasks in your business, struggling to find time to get things done
If any of this sounds familiar, rest assured you're not alone. I, too, have fallen prey to the allure of "more culture." But fear not! The key to escaping it and its unpleasant side effects—overwhelm, exhaustion, stress, and anxiety—is embracing an "enough mindset.”
Embracing an Enough Mindset 🤗
So, what does it mean to embrace an enough mindset? It means defining what "enough" truly means for your business and life. It's about shifting your focus from constant striving to a state of contentment and satisfaction. In a world that glorifies the pursuit of more, it's crucial to step back and reflect on what truly matters to you.
I recently came across Ramit Sethi's Netflix show, "How to Get Rich," and he talks about the concept of designing your rich life. Your rich life is unique to you—it's not about copying others or striving for external measures of success. It's about building a life that aligns with your values, brings you joy, and allows you to make the most of your time on Earth. Your version of a rich life could involve building a successful empire, or it could be as simple as having the flexibility to pick up your kiddo from carpool every day or indulging in a guilt-free purchase of your dream car.
To ensure that your goals and aspirations are truly your own, it's crucial to dig deeper and understand their underlying motivations.
Ask yourself why you're pursuing specific revenue targets or business milestones.
How will they impact your life?
How do they align with your core desires and needs?
By uncovering these motivations, you can set more intentional and meaningful targets for yourself.
For example, if my goal is to reach a certain monthly revenue target, I ask myself: Why is that important to me? How exactly do I plan on utilizing that money? What purpose does that specific amount serve in fulfilling my desires and needs?
Let's not just pull revenue numbers out of thin air when setting our goals. Instead, let's set intentional numbers based on our real needs and core desires.
A great resource I discovered is how to set "Enough" based Revenue goals for your business. My business coaches, Caroline & Jason Zook, outline the process here.
Strategies for Implementing an Enough Mindset
Embracing enough mindset can be a daunting task because the culture of more is glorified on social media. Perfectly curated homes with collections of stuff and stuff to organize our stuff fill our feeds, and things like taking big risks and going all in are things that are celebrated and applauded even though the fallout of such investments is never really shared.
Embracing enough mindset requires deliberate actions and a conscious approach to both your business and life. Here are some actionable strategies to help you make this shift:
Prioritize Values Over Profits ⚖️
True fulfillment goes beyond financial gain. It's about living a life that aligns with your values and making decisions that honor those principles. Take the time to reflect on what matters most to you in both your business and personal life. What values do you hold dear? How can you ensure that your actions and decisions align with these values?
For example, if you value ethical marketing, you might choose not to work with clients who don’t share those values, even if it means sacrificing sales. Similarly, if you value family, you might prioritize spending time with loved ones over working long hours to earn more money. By putting your personal values first, you can create a life that is truly meaningful and fulfilling.
Ask yourself:
- What are the core values that matter most to me in my business and life?
- How can I ensure that my actions and decisions honor these values?
- Are there any compromises I'm making that go against my values, and how can I address them?
By placing your values at the forefront, you'll build a business that is not only financially successful but also aligned with your true purpose.
Grow It Gradually 🌱
In the pursuit of more, it's easy to get caught up in setting grandiose goals and tight deadlines. However, it's crucial to set goals and timelines that are realistic and achievable, considering your current life situation. While exponential growth may seem appealing, it often leads to burnout and is not sustainable in the long run. Instead, focus on steady and sustainable progress that aligns with your overall vision for your life.
Break down larger goals into smaller, manageable steps. What incremental goals can you set that will lead to steady progress? By breaking them down, you'll make the journey more manageable and celebrate small wins along the way. Consider how your long-term vision aligns with the goals you've set. Do they contribute to the life you want to create for yourself?
Ask yourself:
- What are the smaller milestones that will lead to steady progress?
- How can I break down larger goals into manageable steps?
- Do my goals align with my long-term vision for my business and life?
By setting realistic and achievable goals, you'll maintain a sense of balance and prevent burnout on your entrepreneurial journey.
Know Your Capacity 📈
As you strive for growth in your business, it's important to understand your upper limits. Growth requires additional resources, both in terms of time and finances. The project management triangle shows the relationship between scope & size & budget & time. Consider the implications of your goals and assess whether you want to handle the increased responsibilities and investments that come with growth.
The problem with the “fig” goals we often see in the online world is that they often don’t address this caveat & the fact that to hit those goals.
- You’re probably going to have hire to more people to help you. Is this a responsibility you want to take on for now and for years to come? Can you even afford it right now? Are their other places you'd rather prioritize you budget?
- You’re probably going to have to work more hours. Do you even want to work more hours? Do you even have more hours available at this time with what you have going on in your current life? Are there other places you'd rather prioritize your time than your business?
- You're probably going to have to spend money to make more money. Do you have the money to invest in your business right now? Have you thought about how as your revenue grows, your expense will increase as well?
Just because making 50k months sounds cool doesn’t mean it's right for you & the lifestyle you are trying to create. The above caveats are often left out of shiny sales pitches that promise “all the figs: because you probably wouldn’t buy.
Understanding your capacity and the implications of growth will help you avoid being overwhelmed and burnout. It's crucial to find a balance between ambition and self-care. Remember :
"Success is not solely defined by the achievement of more but by creating a business and life that align with your true desires and values."
Embracing enough mindset is a powerful way to escape the pitfalls of the more culture that surrounds us. By prioritizing your values over profits, setting realistic goals and timelines, and understanding your limits, you'll create a business and life that are not only successful but also deeply fulfilling. Embrace the joy and contentment that come with knowing you have enough and that you're making choices that align with your true desires. Remember, success is not measured solely by the pursuit of more but by the harmony you create between your business, your life, and your values.
I hope this inspires you to shift your mindset and find your own version of "enough." You've got this, my friend!