Ever been in a rut?
I’ve been in a rut for a few weeks. I’ve been working steadily, and loving it, but I was most certainly digging deeper and deeper into the culvert I was sitting in.
It was easy. It was comfortable. Maybe it wasn’t a rut or a culvert. Maybe it was more like a pig wallow, in the mud, warm and squishy.
I’ve been in a rut for a few weeks. I’ve been working steadily, and loving it, but I was most certainly digging deeper and deeper into the culvert I was sitting in.
It was easy. It was comfortable. Maybe it wasn’t a rut or a culvert. Maybe it was more like a pig wallow, in the mud, warm and squishy.
I’d received an invite from a local Start Up group to attend a swanky awards ceremony a week or so ago and registered to attend.
Then as the event drew near, I was writing away here in my wallow, which is not actually muddy, but a pretty room with sunshiny yellow walls and with art and diplomas and photos of all the people I love. It’s the warmest room in the house and I spend my time in this wallow in slippers and sweatpants and hoodies.
Sweatpants and hoodies!! Who else can boast that’s how they choose to go work every morning.
I was super cozy in the wallow and I didn’t really want to leave, so I post to social media: “Hmmm, to go or not to go to this business mixer? And more importantly, if I do go, can I just wear these sweatpants?”
Another start up owner, commented within minutes saying, yes I should go and that she too was just pulling off her sweats to pretty herself up for the same event.
OK, so I would have back up. Two, I was not the only person getting dressed to go to a place for two hours.
When I do this I typically feel like I’m an imposter. I put on lipstick and think everyone at the event is going to know I only look presentable for this one two-hour thing.
Upon arriving at the event, I don’t immediately spot my back up. It’s OK, I know a lot of people in the room from my past jobs; people who have seen me in my killer heels and nice office wear and not in my sweats.
I grab a glass of wine and schmooze a bit.
I visit the booth of another start-up friend I know (She’s incredible and has mad skills I can only hope to possess one day, so hire her if you need her!). We start to chat, but then they start the speeches … truly the worst part of any of these cocktail events.
They’re boring, but short. Then hand out the awards.
This one unconventional love-him-or-hate-him kind of business guy gets his award and I remark that one day I’d like to pick his brain. I want to know how this guy does business. Does he ever get in ruts?
I sneak outside to smoke during the last bit of the speeches and out comes this love-him or hate-him guy. He asks me for a cigarette and I tell him what I just said inside.
We chat a bit. I don't get the answers I want, but I learn something and that's enough. I thank him for his time and head back inside.
I spot my back-up and gravitate to her like a magnet. I’m pumped by this point; I’ve achieved a goal, albeit a small one. We start talking about fear, about business, about politics. I help her pack up her stuff and walk her outside. She tells me about her business coach and her phenomenal website.
It was then it hit me. I’ve been in a rut.
I hate ruts. Starting this business was about avoiding ruts at all costs. What’s wrong with me. Oh yeah, the imposter syndrome again. Lipstick on a pig.
So, here I am in my pretty office this morning and I don’t feel like I’m in a rut. I remind myself there’s a ton of great work to be done. There’s so much to experience.
There are changes I have to make for sure, and I’ll make them. The biggest of which is to take comfort in the weird, the changing, the “what the what?” of life and business.
The thing is, getting out of your comfort zone, that’s a huge part of the experience of business. Noticing the ruts that are created pretty naturally when you work in isolation; that's another experience.
So I'm learning. I'm learning that back up is so valuable (thank you Mandy). I'm learning that I'm actually good at what I do and I have to get out and sell it. I may be faking it till I make it when I'm getting dressed for a cocktail mixer, but that I'm not faking it when I'm talking about my passion with those at the event.
I'm learning that even at my desk, I have to get out of my sweats and put on my lipstick.
Then as the event drew near, I was writing away here in my wallow, which is not actually muddy, but a pretty room with sunshiny yellow walls and with art and diplomas and photos of all the people I love. It’s the warmest room in the house and I spend my time in this wallow in slippers and sweatpants and hoodies.
Sweatpants and hoodies!! Who else can boast that’s how they choose to go work every morning.
I was super cozy in the wallow and I didn’t really want to leave, so I post to social media: “Hmmm, to go or not to go to this business mixer? And more importantly, if I do go, can I just wear these sweatpants?”
Another start up owner, commented within minutes saying, yes I should go and that she too was just pulling off her sweats to pretty herself up for the same event.
OK, so I would have back up. Two, I was not the only person getting dressed to go to a place for two hours.
When I do this I typically feel like I’m an imposter. I put on lipstick and think everyone at the event is going to know I only look presentable for this one two-hour thing.
Upon arriving at the event, I don’t immediately spot my back up. It’s OK, I know a lot of people in the room from my past jobs; people who have seen me in my killer heels and nice office wear and not in my sweats.
I grab a glass of wine and schmooze a bit.
I visit the booth of another start-up friend I know (She’s incredible and has mad skills I can only hope to possess one day, so hire her if you need her!). We start to chat, but then they start the speeches … truly the worst part of any of these cocktail events.
They’re boring, but short. Then hand out the awards.
This one unconventional love-him-or-hate-him kind of business guy gets his award and I remark that one day I’d like to pick his brain. I want to know how this guy does business. Does he ever get in ruts?
I sneak outside to smoke during the last bit of the speeches and out comes this love-him or hate-him guy. He asks me for a cigarette and I tell him what I just said inside.
We chat a bit. I don't get the answers I want, but I learn something and that's enough. I thank him for his time and head back inside.
I spot my back-up and gravitate to her like a magnet. I’m pumped by this point; I’ve achieved a goal, albeit a small one. We start talking about fear, about business, about politics. I help her pack up her stuff and walk her outside. She tells me about her business coach and her phenomenal website.
It was then it hit me. I’ve been in a rut.
I hate ruts. Starting this business was about avoiding ruts at all costs. What’s wrong with me. Oh yeah, the imposter syndrome again. Lipstick on a pig.
So, here I am in my pretty office this morning and I don’t feel like I’m in a rut. I remind myself there’s a ton of great work to be done. There’s so much to experience.
There are changes I have to make for sure, and I’ll make them. The biggest of which is to take comfort in the weird, the changing, the “what the what?” of life and business.
The thing is, getting out of your comfort zone, that’s a huge part of the experience of business. Noticing the ruts that are created pretty naturally when you work in isolation; that's another experience.
So I'm learning. I'm learning that back up is so valuable (thank you Mandy). I'm learning that I'm actually good at what I do and I have to get out and sell it. I may be faking it till I make it when I'm getting dressed for a cocktail mixer, but that I'm not faking it when I'm talking about my passion with those at the event.
I'm learning that even at my desk, I have to get out of my sweats and put on my lipstick.