Embracing the Slow Grow

One of the biggest lessons I took away from this past year was to Embrace the Slow Grow.

So I thought I’d share my thoughts with you on this topic today as it relates to building your story brand and even setting goals for the year that lies ahead.

Here are three strategies I’ve adopted to help me Embrace the Slow Grow as we move into 2022.

Manage Your Expectations

When it comes to setting expectations in our business, we need to first consider where we’re getting our expectations in the first place. Are the milestones we’re aiming for realistic ones? Or are we trying to be like the latest shooting star on social media?

The thing with shooting stars is that they fade away pretty quickly once their moment has come and gone. And I don’t know about you, but I plan on shining for a good, long time before I ever fade off into the distance.

So when it comes to managing expectations in my own business, I’ve decided to give myself permission to grow at my own pace. That includes setting reasonable micro-goals and celebrating each one as I pass them. It also means setting some “to be” goals rather than just “to do” goals. In 2022, for instance, I’ve set some goals for myself to be more courageous, more creative and more consistent.

Be wise with business spending.

When times are uncertain, it makes sense to keep cash on reserve in case of an emergency. So while I definitely plan to invest in the tools and coaching that will have a high return on investment for me and my business, I’m going to be careful not to chase down the latest fads that usually carry a pretty hefty price tag. I’m a big believer that less is more and that simple businesses have just as good a chance of succeeding as businesses with all the bells and whistles.

What it comes down to is this: what allows you to make an impact? And what do you need to do it?

So my challenge to you is to take a look at your own business and see where you can reduce waste or excess spending. In some cases, you might want to band together with other small business owners in your area to barter or buy in bulk together. There are so many solutions, it’s just a matter of getting creative with your spending.

Don’t Compare Yourself with Others

I learned long ago that it’s an easy trap to fall into and it’s one you’ll be stuck in forever if you don’t realize you’re there. Instead of competing, I’ll be focused on collaborating and building community. I call these joyful connections and intentional collaborations.

Because honestly, that’s what’s worked best for me in the past and I believe it’s going to carry Power Your Platform into the year ahead.

There’s actually a great book written by Lucy Sheridan called “The Comparison Cure: How to Be Less Them and More You”. You can click on the shownotes for details, but Lucy helps readers go from compare and despair to Comparison Free. And that’s exactly the kind of freedom I’m looking for, how about you?

In honour of the new year, here's my Slow Grow Pledge for 2022 -- feel free to take it with me!

I hope you'll join me in taking the Slow Grow Pledge for the year ahead!