Part Six · 10 of 11

Letting Go

One of the biggest lessons of running my own business has been learning to let go of my attachments.

It’s ironic, because that same determination helped me achieve much of what I have. But it also led to burnout, and to a lot of self-criticism whenever I didn’t meet my own expectations.

Letting go doesn’t mean giving up on ambition. It means being a little kinder to myself.

If I’m tired, I don’t have to push through. I can go rest.

If I can’t figure something out, I can let it sit for a while. There will be a way.

If I can’t finish by the deadline I set for myself, postponing isn’t a big deal.

And if things aren’t perfect, that’s okay, too. I can give myself a pat on the shoulder and say: you’ve already done enough.

I’ve also started to see the people and situations that make me unhappy as gifts. They help me see myself more clearly, and they give me a chance to grow.

A sign that you’ve grown as an entrepreneur: you can read a bad review of your work without letting it get to you.