Don't: Fake It Until You Make It
We've all heard "fake it until you make it", but a recent article really made me think about that phrase. I'm all about pushing forward, and continuing to grow, and I think the day you stop losing the drive to get better, and work harder, is the day you stop being "successful". That drive to learn, to grow, to work harder - that drive shapes our journey as entrepreneurs/freelancers/creative thinkers. Being hungry for more is a wonderful thing. However, "faking" that everything is butterflies and rainbows is where I believe the problem is.Here's how we can make a change - realize that it's okay to get vulnerable, and ask for help. Share your struggles, show people that you're only human! Get feedback, ask for help where you need it. Lean on other entrepreneurs or people in your field (or friends and family). Delegate things that make you want to pull your hair out. Share what's not working, and what's helping you. You're not sharing industry secrets here, you're sharing experiences, and I bet a lot of people will be able to relate, no matter what stage of your journey you're at.No matter what level of success you've achieved, you'll still find stress, struggles, obstacles and the like - so putting your mental health first is key! Being honest, and opening up about your struggles humanizes your brand - and people want to know YOU! They're not just buying a product or service - they're buying into YOU. You are your brand! This of course, makes finding "work/life balance" a real struggle - I mean - does that even exist (I think it's just called boundaries). So I challenge you to get a little more "real". I get that you might only clean your house when you need to take a cute shot for instagram, or that you haven't washed your hair in days, and honestly, that's what people will like about you - that you too, are real, authentic, and willing to share.Update: A friend reminded me of this amazing Q&A with my spirit animal, Jen Gotch. Throwing up my hands and saying YES to how Jen speaks about this subject!