I saw this prompt this morning, and I was like, no need to think too far because there is something so sensitive that I have unlearned so far, and it has brought a positive impact into my personal life.
There are some mindsets that are obviously unhealthy, and once we achieve a shift on that, we could do better.
So one of the biggest things I have unlearned in this first half of this year is the mindset/belief that, "to get things done very well, I have to do it myself".
This is a mindset I have lived with, especially since I started running my sachet water business towards the end of last year.
The business has been one of the biggest journeys of my life this year with diverse experiences, both good and bad. Like every other new entrepreneur, I wanted things to be very perfect. Just leave me to do all the supervision myself; I want to make sure my eyes are on production and that no single mistake is made. I want to supervise delivery, quality control, and recording; speak to customers and resolve their complaints; still attend to my family; and play my motherhood and wife duties, all by myself, lol.
I thought that doing all of that by myself would make me a serious entrepreneur, but how long and how well did I keep up?
Some days, I left my home in the morning and returned at night feeling tired, and yes, there was no way I could control what happened with production and other things associated with the business. My mind will run around, and I won't just have peace wherever I am, yet I can't divide myself into two but allow staff around to do things on my behalf. If they make a mistake, I will feel bad and go hard on myself, saying I should have been there.
I took everything so personally, and it was weighing me down honestly and gradually, I realized how much I started burning out.
So one day, after a hectic week, I lay on my bed and began to reflect, and then I asked myself a question, Nkem, if I continue running this business like this, can I guarantee myself the strength to carry on and still grow the business in years to come? Capital NO was the answer...
That moment on my bed, I think it was on my birthday just last month, I had a shift in my mindset. I had to UNLEARN the idea of doing everything myself before it could be done very well. I began to learn to put people through just exactly how I want things to be done in the factory, and I also learned to trust them.
I learned to give them responsibilities and accept that everyone can make mistakes since we are only but humans and that mistakes are also part of business, especially a new one that is still growing. I also learned to politely correct the workers instead of being angry with them.
Overall, I learned and also realized that the business in question needs a healthy owner, not an exhausted one, always.
All these lessons and more did not only improve my business but also my personal life at large. I have become so intentional about what I spend my energy on. No more trying to control everything, but focus on things that could take the business to the next level. And do you know what? Ever since I learned to stop trying to do everything myself, I started becoming more productive, and burning myself out became a thing of the past.
The business is still in its growing stage with challenges here and there; it is expected, but I don't see all the challenges again that I am failing gradually, but rather I see them as part of building something great.
The lessons so far have affected my personal life positively; now I don't feel bad for taking a pause anymore. I now believe that every problem must not be solved immediately, and asking other people to take some responsibilities doesn't make me weak but wise instead.
When I take a flashback from the beginning of this year, I feel super grateful for such a shift in my mindset, which has given me more peace.
Now I believe that growth is not only when we learn new things but sometimes also when we unlearn an old habit.
This is my response to the ladies of Hive prompt #296. interested in joining? check here
