Doing the Work Always Pays Off
I came into this year with a lot of energy, strong goals, and a plan. I felt prepared for what was up ahead and optimistic about the opportunities that would follow. I was moving a mile a minute - with no breaks in sight. Quarter 1 of 2023 was a really strong quarter for me, in terms of what I was able to accomplish. I felt justified in the work I was doing and excited to see the results. However, the results didn't satiate my desires. In response, I felt like all of my hard work had been for nothing. This brings me to today's topic - the idea that doing the work always pays off.
In March, I decided to take a step back and reassess my business. I thought about what I had been doing, what was working for me, and why some things didn't pan out as I had hoped. Once the week ended, I slowly started getting back into the swing of things. I began documenting and backtracking the work I had done previously to get an idea of where my business stood. To my surprise, I had made quite a bit of progress! Coming to this realization was eye opening and reassuring. I was happy to see that all the mundane tasks I had been doing were adding up over time to create a solid foundation for where I am to go next.
Many of us may feel like we're doing so much for little in return and/or little gain. Some of us may feel like nothing we do is good enough or special enough. Others of us may feel unsure about the work that we do and the direction that it points us in. In any scenario, the work always counts. Many successful entrepreneurs will emphasize that success comes from repetition over long periods of time, and so far in my entrepreneurial journey, I can attest to that being undeniably true. I can't count the amount of opportunities I've received, simply, by showing up on a regular basis.
I can recall getting my first retail job. I dressed up really nicely, printed out my resume and hit the pavement - going store to store, at the mall, asking for managers and passing out my resume. I came across one store, it was a little slow and not many people were working. Someone walked up to me and asked if I was there for an interview. I responded by telling them no and asking if I could instead leave a resume for the manager. Come to find out, I was already talking to the store manager and was able to schedule an interview on the spot. I, then, worked for that company for 3 years, until I moved on to luxury retail.
I say all this to say that regardless of what you do, regardless of your experience or industry - the work that you put in, day in and day out, is always adding to your pool of resources and preparing you for future opportunities. It's normal to feel like things aren't working out for you sometimes. It's totally fine to want more for yourself. However, always remember that your work counts - no matter how big or small it may be and no matter the area of life that it's in. You win half the battle just by being willing to show up, so commit to showing up for yourself - if nothing else.
