If you’ve been here for awhile, you likely know that I have chronic Lyme disease. Although I have been fortunate that it hasn’t impacted my life to the degree that many have experienced, I nonetheless have much less energy, stamina, and overall vitality than I used to, among numerous other challenging symptoms.
This has caused me to change how I run my business, and of course, it’s significantly impacted my life. Although I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, there are many rich lessons to be learned from being chronically ill and simultaneously running a business.
On my healing journey (which has mostly been a “getting worse, hitting rock bottom, and feeling a teeny bit better journey”), I’ve come across bits of wisdom that apply to much more than just my health. A bit of wisdom I received recently — one that actually caused me to cuss and stomp around like a 4-year-old — felt applicable to you.
In fact, I believe this is the one thing you most need to do to grow your business.
Lyme’s Impact on My Life and Work
As I said above, I have much less energy than I used to. Activities that I used to enjoy, like running, mountain biking, and backpacking, are now just memories and gear stored in my garage.
I sleep a lot. Work less than 20 hours most weeks, sometimes much fewer than that. I see all sorts of doctors and healing practitioners in a continuing attempt to regain my once nearly rock-solid health.
This past summer I hit bottom, and honestly, I considered it a good thing. I realized that I was as sick and as tired as I was likely going to get. Though not my desired state forever, I can accept it for now.
At the same time, I’m not giving up. I will keep doing what I can to get better and continue searching, reading, and praying for the answers I need to fully heal. And that’s what led me to a session with Krissy.
My Lesson, Your Lesson
While exploring some new ideas presented to me by a former client, Krissy Ruddy, a Certified Holistic Health Coach and yoga teacher, I learned a lesson about life, healing, and business.
She told me this:
Click to TweetThe hardest thing for you to do is often the exact thing you most need to do.I heard Krissy say those words while we were on the phone, but I brushed them off, because deep down, I knew I would have to reevaluate how I operate my life — again.
I say “again” because I’ve been doing a lot of reevaluating for the past several years, and the mere thought of another change made me want to crawl into a hole.
Like my most diligent and successful clients, she followed up after our session with homework and points of contemplation. It all came down to that same core concept that I wished I could just ignore: the hardest thing to do is likely the one that I most need to do.
If I told you what she told me to do, you’d probably laugh, so I’ll spare myself the embarrassment. For most people, it would be easy, especially considering the massive dietary changes and lifestyle shifts I’ve made the past two years. But for me, this single, simple change feels really freaking hard.
I realized Krissy was right (because we all know, deep down, what we really need to do — we just don’t want to know it or do it), and I stomped around my house, cussing.
If that’s not a clear signal that this is my next move, I don’t know what is.
And of course, all of this led me to thinking about business. (Because I’m always thinking about business!)
What You Must Do to Grow Your Business
Just like healing my body will require me to do new things in new ways, growing your business will require you to do new things in new ways, too.
With Krissy’s wisdom continuing to reverberate in my ear, I ask you this:
What is the thing you know deep down that you need to do but you’re totally not doing?
- Dreading blogging and sending newsletters? Guess what – that’s likely your next growth area!
- Hate the sales pitch at the end of a free call? Ding ding ding! Do this!
- Wish someone could market your business for you? Um, growth opportunity!
- Hate doing your books or looking at your numbers? Hello! Attention must go here!
- Putting off building your list? This is your next step, my friend!
- Wish you didn’t have to “put yourself out there” online or around town? Get to it!
The hardest thing for us to do is often the exact thing we most need to do IF we want to change or improve our current situation.
Of course I don’t have to make the changes Krissy recommended. And you don’t have to blog or market or look at your books. Unless you want something to change.
Click to TweetIf you want different results, you have to take different actions.Likely those actions need to be the things you’re not comfortable doing.
(Next week we’ll talk more about why it’s actually a good thing for business to feel uncomfortable.)
My Personal Recommendation for YouI’m Not Ready & Other Lies I Tell Myself: What to Do When You’re Scared Sh*tlessDo You Want to Grow Your Business?
Now, you might be doing what I did when Krissy imparted her wisdom on me. You might be cussing, stomping around, or pitching a fit like a 4-year-old.
That’s okay. Get it out of your system. Then get really honest with yourself like I had to do with myself.
If I want to get better, I need to do this next thing that feels so wildly uncomfortable.
If you want to grow your business, you need to do that next thing that feels so wildly uncomfortable.
Try looking at it this way:
Click to TweetThe price of change is a simply little discomfort.You see, business doesn’t have to be so hard.
Are You Ready?
Tell me….
Do you want to grow your business? (If you’re reading this, I’m guessing you do!)
Are you willing to do the things you don’t really want to do so you can build your business?
What’s that next thing you know you need to do but kinda sorta don’t wanna admit you need to do, secretly wishing and hoping and praying you don’t have to do at all?
Are you willing to do this super uncomfortable thing, the thing you really need to do? Is the discomfort worth the price of the change you desire?
I can’t wait to hear your thoughts in the comments…
Gosh how timely. 🙂 And also a bit uncomfortable {so a sign that the thing I’ve been contemplating and resisting is indeed the next thing!}. I’ve been toying with the idea of a membership site on and off for a while now; it makes sense in many ways and is also a scary-and-huge feeling commitment to growth! Your post has come just at the right time and added to the ‘go for it’ column! I love your way of always being open and honest about your own experiences Jenny, and always managing to turn them into gold. Sending best wishes for easing of symptoms and overall healing. <3
I love that you’re ready to look at what’s uncomfortable, Tara. Bravo!!
Thank you for your kind words. I know how much I value the whole story from other people, so I try to model that here.
Thanks for being here!
Someone once told me that the moment I catch myself saying, “I don’t want to do THAT,” then THAT is my exact next step in my journey. THAT for me is showing up in all parts of my life as the Transformational Money Coach I am. Showing up as her at networking events (a big THAT that I don’t want to do!) Showing up as her in the grocery, at restaurants, at the farmer’s market, even on the hiking trail. Embodying her wherever I go so that when people ask me what I do, I’m coming from a resourced place where I can tell them with confidence and attract the people who need my help. Thank you for the reminder, Jenny. Sending you light and wishing you abundant health.
I’m excited to see you keep showing up as you, Deane!!
If you want any help with those challenging networking events, I recommend Marsh of yesyesmarsha.com. She’s the bees knees and has a great approach to networking that’s fun and effective.
Thanks for being here!
The next thing I know I need to do but kinda sorta don’t wanna admit I need to do, is guest blogging. I’ve put off even thinking about it, not even for fear of doing but just flat out because I don’t want to. I’ve noticed lately and trying to become more and more aware that if I am resisting something, even simply reading a blog or quote, it’s because I probably need to. And guess what? When I make myself do it I find that I really did need it. It’s an awesome new concept and I don’t know how but you always find a way to reaffirm these new findings! I would like to hear more about how you manage your business and your health, I deal with fatigue and my guess is there are a lot more out there who juggle physical things while trying to run a business too. Just a thought! Thank you 🙂
Time to do it, Teri!! When I started guest blogging, I grew my list and my client base. It was really effective in helping grow my business. I was really resistant to it as well and used full-on, shameless bribery to do it. It was effective in helping me get it done!
As far as how I manage my business and my health, there’s a lot to it, and at some point I’ll share all of my strategies (when I have the energy – LOL). A big part of it is being CRYSTAL CLEAR on my priorities, and when I do work, I don’t waste a minute. I’m FOCUSED on the task at hand.
You can learn many of tips for getting a lot of work done in less time in this free call I did a few years ago: https://jennyshih.com/2021/05/work-less/
Thanks for being here, and I hope you like that free call!
Thank you so much Jenny, you’re an inspiration in so many ways! I will listen to the call and also keep you in my prayers!
Thanks, Jenny. I also have chronic illnesses (OCD, depression, eating disorder, PCOS) that severely eat into the amount of energy I have for *anything,* much less growing my business. I am quick to take action on implementing ideas, and years of exposure therapy have made doing the hard things a bit easier, but it’s at the expense of my health (and it often feeds my OCD).
So, for me, the hardest thing to do in my business is to actually take a step away. My husband actually suggested that I only work on my business 3 hours each day and I balked. I’ve already limited the number of clients I work with each day, as I can really only handle 1 or 2, max. How can I cut down on marketing/content creation?! I told my therapist this ridiculous idea and she pointed out that my extreme opposition to scaling back my hours is very telling.
I’m still fighting it, but I’m working on decreasing this obsession with working 10-12 hours each day for the sake of my health (and marriage!).
Mallie — YES!! It’s time to slow down, my friend. Check out that free call I just listed above. It will give you 7 strategies to work less without hurting your income. That free training has changed many women’s lives.
Wishing you well on your recovery and on taking things down a level. I know it can be challenging, but your whole being and your whole life will love you for it!!
Thanks for being here and sending you tons of love!
Oh, Jenny!
Spot-on as usual. Thanks for re-affirming what it is I need to do.
I’m going through a BIG growth phase (transitioning from offline to online) and learning oodles of new stuff. Most of the examples in you next-to-last paragraph are things I’m dreading. Constantly chanting “fearwards!” to keep myself doing them. It helps, but a post from a businesswoman I respect is like a salve.
Except doing my books. That’s the easy part. 🙂
My first newsletter went out a month ago, tomorrow I’m sending out the 2nd one. Uncomfortable? You bet. To the point of procrastination. Blogging? I’ve been avoiding it like a plague. Sales pitch? Make me week at the knees to think about.
The affirmation that discomfort is OK is super-welcome these days.
Bottom line – you are absolutely right. All the things that make me uncomfortable, are the things that make me and my brainchild grow. And if it’s not painful, it’s not real growth.
I hope you recover as speedy as humanly possible, and keep sharing your gifts with the world.
I love how you’re owning it, Marina!! Eventually these things will get easier (and, lucky you, new things will be uncomfortable!). Keep at it!! It’s worth it in the end.
Thank you for being here today!
Oh Jenny,
Thank you for sharing your story and getting us to see that we need to face up to those things that are scaring us or holding us back. It is so true, we hide from what we really should be doing. I am just starting my business, and building my site still etc. But getting out there and acting like the expert that I know deep down I am is scary and seems hard for me. I so want to help others succeed, and I don’t want to come across as a salesly crazy biotch. =). lol
I just need to tap into my authenticity and believe in what I can offer. Thank you so very much.
Much peace and happiness to you dear Jenny.
Sounds like you know your next steps, Brigid! That’s perfect. Keep going, keep taking action… you can do this!
Loved this Jenny! How funny to hear my own advice come back to me, and to see how it relates to my business in ways I never thought of! 🙂
My next big thing (that big, ugly, scary thing that I don’t want to do) is to get my new offer up on my website and then to get out of my comfort zone when it comes to promoting it.
I find that my comfort zone is tinkering away on my website, making creative videos and good food, sharing my knowledge with close friends and current clients, and the things that I just love and that come naturally.
My next step is to post my new offer out into the world (even if it’s not perfect – another lesson in body/health and business!) and to start doing free talks, and webinars and other public events that allow me to share my work with a larger audience. Wow! That feels damn good to say out loud. Thanks for this inspiration!!
xoxo
Krissy
http://www.krissyruddy.com
I love it, Krissy! Both that you helped me and that you gave me the insight to write about that you also needed. That’s how the world works for the best things 🙂
I’m so glad to see you embrace discomfort in your business! The world certainly needs more of you in it, so those scary steps are perfect. Sending you love, support and encouragement as you go for it!!
xo
Jenny, I read your blogs on and off and find it very rich and inspiring. My prayers for healing and strength go out to you. I have a friend who was diagnosed with the Lyme disease few years ago and it has been an on-going battle. Since I do Spiritual Life Coaching on the part time basis and have been assisting her on the difficult journey; with the grace of God we starting to see improvements. I am 52 years young 🙂 and just like past you 🙂 Project/Program Manager. I totally agree with your comments about finding that one thing and focus on it and do it no matter what in order to grow a business. I am an introvert so reaching out to people verbally, going to the networking event it is simply a chore and I drag it. Your inspired story have inspired me – I will start dragging my tushy and try to meet new people. Thanks for your generosity in sharing your life lessons.
Whether you network in person or online, it’s a must! Step by step, it will help grow your business. Without people, we wouldn’t have businesses at all 🙂
Thank you for your prayers!
As a fellow chronic Lyme disease experiencer AND someone who is finally “getting” that doing what I really don’t want to do is the key to everything, this whole post resonates. I recently took a deep breath and asked my financially brilliant husband to hold my hand while I looked at my numbers. I realized just how deep in the sand my head actually was and allowed myself to just feel the terror. In the end, it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be and now I actually have a plan in place AND I have a smart, trustworthy partner who wants to help me succeed!
P.S. On the Lyme, it does get better. I was diagnosed in 2009 and my case wasn’t as bad as some, but I experienced serious fatigue, brain fog, and body aches/pains. I found a Lyme-literate naturopathic physician who helped me learn how to boost my immune system and prescribed a Lyme-specific homeopathic remedy (from a company called Deseret Biologicals). I never went the antibiotics route. Managing my mind around the whole thing (not heaping additional pain and suffering onto myself) has helped the most! Here’s to healing!
I’m thrilled to hear that you took your head out of the sand around your numbers, Karen. That’s sooo incredibly important to do. Bravo for asking for help!
Thanks for the Lyme well wishes. I’m heaps better than I have been (and Ayurveda’s been my latest mind-blowing helpful healer), and I honestly believe that I can fully recover to my previously energetic self! Wishing you continued and improving health as well.
Jenny,
What a kick in the pants! You are so right about the thing you don’t want to do is the very thing you need to do to grow your business. I have learned to embrace the fact that when I meet resistance and am struggling with and trying to get out of doing something. 1) when I go ahead and do it, it wasn’t so bad after all and 2) the thrashing about is usually a sign of a breakthrough, like me trying to burst out of a cocoon. I am tackling the “put yourself out there more” resistance or conquering it 🙂
Wishing you health and lots of energy!
XO
TaVona
Love your self-insights, TaVona. It’s so true that we work that shit up in our heads to be way worse than it actually is! Way to keep at it, face the resistance, work through it, and keep going. Keep it up!
This reminds me of Joseph Campbell’s quote: “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.”
Thanks for the reminder 🙂
Great quote!
This really resonated with me. I am having to do really hard things as a new coach, well outside my comfort zone. It’s a challenge, but in there there is the real possibility of “pausing” or giving it it’s real name, procrastination. Thanks, my journey is filled with pitfalls (in the form of eight children at home), so this gives me encouragement to keep climbing the hill.
Keep going, Kate! The reward is totally worth the climbing!
This is a breakthrough I had just yesterday while speaking with a colleague. I’ve been resistant to sharing my personal story and why that inspires the work that I do. I don’t know why as I share my story openly otherwise but with clients or potential clients I have not wanted to. And yesterday I realized doing that may be one of the best ways to shatter that glass ceiling I’ve been feeling is holding me down. And then I read this post today and I got shivers! So today I bit the bullet and recorded my a piece of story to share as part of my email follow up sequence when people download one of my free programs. Eeeek!
Thank you for sharing a piece of your story. I know how awful it feels when you feel terrible in your body. Everything feels hard. I wish you better health and energy and vitality again!
Are you familiar with Simon Sinek’s book Start With Why? He also has a great Ted talk on the topic. “People don’t buy what you do they buy why you do it,” he says. Sharing your story is important, and I’m thrilled to hear you’re now doing it!
Thanks Jenny I’ll check out his work!
Jenny, I have to tell you how wonderful you and the work you do is. I was getting emails from you before I went to B-School, and when Marie Forleo mentioned you in a training I knew I needed to give you and your work a closer look. After reading the above post today, I downloaded the “Do Less” call and listened to it and it was fantastic. Exactly what I needed to hear. I believe I have downloaded every bit of free information you offer at this point. I am so impressed by the quality as well as quantity of your content, and want to tell you it won’t be three years before I purchase something you offer. You are a tremendous inspiration. Thank you for everything you do!
I’m so glad you enjoyed that call, Amy! It was one of my favorites to teach 🙂 Thank you so much for saying that you’ve been enjoying what I share — that make me so happy because I really do want to help women be successful in business.
Wishing you the best as you build your business!
Thought you might appreciate this article by Amy Tan on Lyme disease: http://www.humanthology.com/lyme-disease/2014/9/15/slyme-disease-how-a-speck-changed-my-life-forever
Jenny, Your top-quality advice always rings true. “The hardest thing for you to do is often the exact thing you most need to do.” In my case, as much as I believed you when you said to make sure you love your business first, I started on my journey with the service I thought I could sell – and I couldn’t. Now that I am doing something meaningful to me, I feel unstoppable.
When we do the inner work first, the outer work becomes much less onerous, and sometimes even downright fun!