The Inspiration Nation

At a networking meeting yesterday morning, I made a confession.

It wasn't particularly easy to say, but what I think stops people in their tracks and keeps people "stuck" is the feeling that they are all alone, that they are the only one experiencing the thing, and that no one would understand.

My challenge in the past has been not wanting to be perceived as a complainer.  Who wants to hear my troubles anyway?

So, I find myself yet again plugging away -- struggling, really -- on my own.  Not exactly what I'd call fun.

Have you ever felt that way?

With the population of the world numbering into the billions, there's a good chance that whatever it is we may be struggling with, someone else is struggling with the same thing.

So I threw caution (and trepidation) to the wind and decided a couple of days ago that I would make my confession on Monday.

What was my big confession?

That I felt like a complete LOSER (with a capital L) all week last week.

I felt like I was behind the 8 ball at every turn, running around like a chicken with its head cut off, and really not quite understanding what was going on.  I also was physically dragging all week, generally feeling very tired and lethargic.  One day last week, I took two naps!

I also found myself not getting anything done that I had planned to do to further my business, so I felt not a little bit depressed and disappointed with myself.

On Friday, I had a chat with my accountability partner, during and after which I felt like even more of a loser.  He only spoke truth, confirming that I had accomplished very little of what I committed to accomplishing that week.

He was neither harsh nor lacking in compassion, but he didn't pull any punches either.

I don't know about you, but getting punched doesn't feel very good.

So, feeling crushed and wanting to crawl under a rock and die, I opened a book and read the line in C.J. Hayden's Get Clients Now! book that gave me a different, better perspective:

"There is no failure, only feedback."

So, relieved, I exhaled.

And then I picked myself up, recommitted, and stepped back on my path.