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By Amy Vetter, Inc.
My son shares his top lessons from watching me at work that can help other business owners.
There is an inspirational quote that says, "You never know who's watching. You could be encouraging, inspiring, and motivating so many without even knowing it." There are many variations of this quote, but this version is one of my favorites. Yet, I never knew how close it struck home until my son began to write guest blogs for my yoga studio's website.
We try to be good role models for our kids, but as a mom, you never really know what will stick. From his blogs, I've discovered that he has learned some valuable life skills and insight from how I approach my business.
His observations are also great reminders for me--and all entrepreneurs--that we always need to keep our values and passion for why we do what we do as our True North for running and growing our business.
That said, here are three lessons my son learned that can help you gain greater clarity and motivate you in your business pursuits:
1. What you say matters.
We place much effort in how we present our business to potential clients. Does our logo, image, and message represent what we offer as well as our values?
At first, my son didn't understand the meaning behind my studio's name, DRISHTIQ, but found out that "drishti" means "focus" in Sanskrit. In terms of yoga, it represents the studio's goal to stay balanced and grounded in one's practice. The "Q" at the end symbolizes infinite focus as you pursue your path.
He saw the logo as a great message for life, too. He wrote, "If we stay focused on our goals, we will be able to accomplish them, whether it's fitness goals or life goals. This idea is crucial in setting you up for success."
His perspective is a reminder that I should always think about how I present my business and services to the world, no matter how seemingly insignificant. You should do the same. Does your message inspire? Do you always convey the right image to customers and clients? Being more mindful of the small details like this can sometimes be the difference between success and failure.
2. See obstacles as opportunities.
I was quite sick after I had my second child (my son's little brother). My doctor forbade any physical activity, which for a go-go-go person like myself was almost worse than my diagnosis.
This is when I focused on what I could do and took up yoga for the first time, even though I couldn't get close to touching my toes. I often took my son to different types of classes with different types of styles. I didn't realize it at the time, but even at his young age, he saw how I did not let an obstacle like learning yoga keep me from moving forward.
And he liked doing yoga with me. "I actually found enjoyment in these classes. I was driven by the challenge," he wrote as he recalled that time in our lives. I too often look back at this tough time in our lives and am proud that my son saw that I could accomplish anything with the right attitude.
This also reminded me that obstacles and set backs are part of doing business. You will have them again and again. To help, recall what you did to get through the last tough time and remind yourself that you possess the strength, insight, and grit to do anything.
3. Always do what you love.
People always notice those who have a passion and love for what they do. My son witnessed this firsthand when I announced to my family that I was opening a yoga studio in addition to my corporate executive job at a software company. His first reaction was, "Wait, are you serious?"
But as he thought about it, the idea made perfect sense as it blended both my personal goals and my entrepreneurial spirit. "I realized opening a yoga studio actually wasn't too far out of an idea for my mom," he wrote. Now when he watches me teach classes, he realizes that there is work and there is passion, and it's possible to do both.
Business is not always fun. There are good and bad days. But the passion should always be there. Why did you choose to start your business? What was the original spark? If you have lost it, this is an opportunity to revisit your goals and decide if changes should be made to get back on the right path.
My son is fortunate to have seen me fulfill both my work and personal passions in business. It's a good reminder that when we love the work we do, we inspire others to design the work life they desire.
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