At every given moment we are absolutely perfect for what is required for our journey. ~Steve Maraboli
Before deciding to start your business, you had been following a certain life path. Then, something happened that caused you to choose to take full control of that path. Would it surprise you if I told you it’s critically important to your future business success to understand where you’ve come from and what brought you to this decision?
We each have a unique path we are walking, paved with all the stories we’ve accumulated along our individual journeys whether we are business owners or not. Your life path isn’t the same as mine, nor is it like anyone else’s. Regardless, we are likely to have some experiences in common and, in sharing them, we both benefit.
Have you ever thought about this? How much do you know about what brought you to a desire for independence in life? How many of your stories have you shared with others?
Did you know how you approach your business tells a story about who you are to your prospective customers?
It is important to know your story because it gives you a better sense of what you’re good at, what you love to do, and how you can best serve the needs of your customers as you build a business from your originating idea.
But it’s even more important to know your story because there will be times of self-doubt, there will be bumps in the road, and there will be moments of defeat to overcome. However, when you revisit your personal story, you’ll see there have been many times in your life when you’ve successfully dealt with such things in the past.
The best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour so, no matter what you’re experiencing today, the odds are you’ve successfully dealt with something similar in the past and are completely capable of doing so again!
When you recall the story that is your life path to date, you’ll realize you’ve accumulated a number of incredible accomplishments along the way. And, if you’re honest with yourself, you’ll see that even the hardest life lessons have gifted you with learning from your experiences thus leaving you able to make better choices down the line.
We don’t always know why things happened to us the way in which they did. In reality, we do not have to know. All we have to do is trust that every single thing that happens to us, happens for our better good. Can you simply remain open to that thought?
Don’t believe me?
Try mapping out your life from birth, through your childhood and into adulthood. Look at the events that come most easily to mind (both at school and at home) as you grew through the years and began assuming more responsibility for yourself along the way.
Name your key influencers, supporters, role models and heroes/heroines. What did they mean to you and why?
What jobs did you hold? What attracted you to them? What skills and proficiencies did you acquire from doing them? What kinds of people did you meet and interact with there?
As you connect the dots of your past, include both triumphs and tribulations. Document all your twists and turns over the decades. Where, when and under what circumstances did the universe step in to guide you?
Look for themes and patterns of behaviour and experience for clues to your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Truly, haven’t you always been resourceful and creative in some way? How can you use that creativity and resourcefulness to your advantage now? What insights have you gained that can be put to work in your business today?
These are the gifts hidden in your life story. Only you can unlock them. And only when you have unlocked them will your business be able to serve you as a way of reinventing your life.