Just the other day my mom asked me how a project was going. I began to tell her and as soon as I opened my mouth my voice cracked. The stress of dealing with a project I felt so strongly about that was not going well and all the other things in my life hit me. At almost 40 years old, I sat and cried to my mom telling her how I was not equipped and under qualified for the project.
In addition, I felt like my house would implode on me for neglecting it. I had a pile of laundry that was competing with a pile of work. I had kids who needed not only a mom but a teacher as I also homeschool. My husband works long hours and is going back to school. I am almost 40 years old and just now see goals coming together yet competing for the time I need to dedicate to family.
My worlds were colliding and it all came out in tears to my mom. My mom is nothing but encouraging. If one can take lemons and make lemonade, she can take tears and make a soothing bath. She reminded of how hard I have been working and how much she prayed for me. She told me that I was not under qualified and if this project doesn’t work out then there will be another. That one project did not mean the world and I should not give it that kind of power.
Let me encourage all of you who feel overwhelmed upon starting a new business venture. First, do not question your ability. Assess your ability and work from that point. No one is talented in every area. Play to your strengths and work on your weaknesses. Enlist help and do not be afraid to talk out your feelings. Second, do not try to do everything. You cannot. I cannot. No one can. If you feel overwhelmed make a list of everything you have to do. Prioritize your list and then figure out how long each task will take. Then begin to plug away at scheduling which days you will tackle which tasks. Then get to it! As you work, you will feel the stress melt away. Finally, make a list of all your accomplished, on paper or mentally, to remind yourself that you can do this…whatever “this” is for you.