Get Out of Your Own Way
I learned to get out of my own way from my daughter. At age 17, she started her own company, Celia Swimwear.
My husband and I didn’t even know she had done this until she needed our, over 18 adults, help to establish her LLC and open bank accounts. She has always been a visual artist and a seamstress since she was little. She designed her own swimsuits and tried sewing them. She realized that sewing swimsuits were difficult, the material, the stitching, etc. That did not stop her. She found a manufacturer who would produce her designs and who shared her values. She set up an online shop and got to work. Her sales were not taking off on her first line. That did not stop her. She learned about advertising on social media. She was hit with a large and unexpected customs bill. That was a big one! That did not stop her.
Meanwhile, I was starting my own LLC for coaching and consulting in schools at the same time. I, on the other hand, stopped a lot. I watch my daughter with amazement as every time she is faced with a problem, she looks at it, tackles it, and moves on. In starting my new venture, I faced a problem and I stopped, often getting in my own way of being successful. I planned, researched, and organized so much that it became a form of procrastination. Somewhere and somehow, my daughter learned to set her intention and to get out of her own way. She is not afraid of problems and inevitable failure. She works through them each time, keeping her intention at the forefront and learning from each mistake. I have been watching her closely and learning. She is now my confidant and consultant. I often ask her advice and opinion on decisions regarding my business, from design ideas to strategy questions.
I am learning from my daughter to get out of my own way by…
- Taking reasonable risks
- Approaching problem-solving without catastrophizing
- Checking the facts in a situation and asking “What’s the worst that could happen?”
- Reflecting and learning after a mistake
Now, when I am hesitating about a decision or an upcoming issue, I hear my daughter’s voice in my head, “Amma, just do it!” and then I get out of my way.
