6 Years ago TODAY…

The above photo from 2015 shows my dear friend Betty Healey and I at the Rachel’s Kids 11th Annual Garden Party at the Ramada in Cornwall. I remember the day so well because that’s when I told Betty of my plans to significantly cut back in my company, letting go of a big part of my team, closing the physical office and going virtual in our operation.

What you don’t really see in this photo is that I was at 205 lbs, feeling pain all over my body and generally not enjoying my life. I had to make changes because my behaviour in business had made me sick.

As my coach Betty had been privy to my “ah-ha moment” a month earlier, when I admitted to myself “I want out.” She listened as good coaches do, and I remember her telling me much later that she hadn’t been certain I’d go through with it! But I did…

Later that week I told 10 people on our team they were being laid off, and that we’d be closing the office. The toughest day of my professional life.

But they survived. I survived. Got better actually, because I focused on ME. My health, both physical and mental. About 16 months later we sold the rest of the business to an employee.

I had been fearful of making such a big move; I thought I had failed as a business owner.

It wasn’t a failure. It was just a setback, a pit stop in my journey which allowed me to refuel, recalibrate my own internal GPS, so I could do what I really wanted to do.

I’m telling you this in case you need a reminder that it’s OK to let go of what no longer serves you. In 2018 I created Business Sisters as a forum where we can talk openly about setbacks and lessons learned. Because real talk can help us move forward!

What Do You Think?

Please share your experiences and thoughts below. Let’s learn from one another and celebrate each other’s successes.

Thanks for reading!