One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned since being in business for myself?

You HAVE to be responsible – to yourself, to your clients + to your business as a whole, if you ever want to succeed.

Seriously. When you’re trying to make it big (or just make it – as in, not living off of Kraft Mac n’ Cheese or sleeping in your car), you can’t hide. You can’t cower. And you definitely can’t ignore the issues in your business + hope they go away. (Bills do not automagically get paid, ya’ll.)

When you’re your own boss, you’ve got to own your reality LIKE WHOA. You’ve got to get into the saddle + pony up (Daisy Dukes are optional, but encouraged. Oh, but cowboy boots are required. I love me some cowboy boots.)

Honestly, as a shy lil’ gal, I used to REALLY suck at handling my issues, especially if it involved a confrontation. I’ve never been big on tackling my ish head on. However, I am now older + wiser, and as a recovering people-pleaser, I’ve had to let go of a lot of my tried-and-true old survival tactics, and trade them in for new, shiny habits. No more quitting right when the going gets tough. No more disappearing acts when things don’t go the way I initially planned (oh yes. That used to happen, a lot more than I’d like to admit!).

Although it hasn’t been easy facing up to my fears, staring ’em square in the face, this whole responsibility thing sure has had its perks.

When you start getting COLOSSALLY responsible for YOURSELF + YOUR ACTIONS, you’ll notice it create little ripples + happy after effects in every area of your life. True story.

Just like bad habits breed bad habits, responsibility breeds more responsibility.

Take this story, for example: Before I pulled myself out of the darkness this week, I was being A SLUG. Seriously. There’s really no better word to describe the way I was slowly, painfully dragging myself through life. My scale can prove as testament: I gained 3 lbs. THREE. In three days. (Keep in mind I haven’t gained weight since about 2006 & just broke 100 lbs. for the first time with this weight gain + you’ll understand why this is so monumental!)

I decided it was okay to slack off on the treadmill (I mean, I have been religiously workin’ on my fitness for weeks – we all deserve a break, right?). I also simultaneously decided that I could throw some meat back in my diet AND eat that extra 100% beef frank.

All of these things were done in a vain attempt to make myself feel better about some stupid mistakes I made earlier this month. Instead of trying to either a) accept my mess-ups or b) correct them, I decided that eating copious amounts of food + throwing my workout to the wind in an attempt to coddle myself was the way to go.

Well. Three pounds + four missed workouts later, I could see that this plan of action was just not working.

I decided to own up to my crap + do something different.

(They always say insanity is doing the same thing over + over + expecting different results, amiright?)

So yesterday I decided to get back on the treadmill.
Which led to me having a delicious amount of energy.
Which led to me deciding to go to the store to buy veggies to make a simple salad for dinner.
Which led to zero-to-none post-dinner guilt.
Which has slightly lessened my depression about my mistakes.

And with my decision to take control of my health came something else:
A decision to be more responsible in my business.

Since ditching the couch for the treadmill, I’ve been making more decisions that are mutually beneficial to both my clients + myself. All that eating well + working out + showing up FOR MYSELF has happily spilled over into other areas of my life, without me even having to make a conscious decision.

So, a word to the wise:

If you’re struggling somewhere in your business, take charge of another area of your life first. Any area. In any way. Just for a minute.

Do something that helps you feel a little bit more in control.
A little bit more responsible, for your own well being.

If you’re feeling bad about yourself, depressed about your circumstances or just plain bored, don’t slow down.
Get up. Get active. Get moving.

Reorganize a sock drawer. Take your puppy outside. Water your flowers. Eat an apple. Turn off the TV, without the remote. Walk around the house for 5 minutes (or better yet–run up & down your stairs, if you have them). Decide to cook a meal from start-to-finish. Fold your laundry or put away your clean clothes. Just do something that engages your body. Anything.

I guarantee you’ll feel and perform better – in your life and your business.