Let your business be your teacher

I've noticed there are some fairly universal lessons in life that will present themselves for the learning when the time is right, and probably repeatedly until we get it.

As entrepreneurs our business is a master teacher in disguise.

If we need to learn how to hold a healthy boundary, you can bet those tricky clients/colleagues will come along to give us opportunities for practice.
If we need to learn to trust our own inner guidance, we can be sure we will bombarded will be a whole host of 'helpful advice' and need to develop our own method of discernment.
If we need to learn to slow down and savour, things are bound to come up and stop us in our tracks. Those of us who need to learn to move away from perfectionism or procrastination will be given the circumstances to do so and no doubt be reminded of the downsides of both patterns.

I find, seeing my business as my teacher to be a hugely helpful frame for navigating and making the most of challenging times rather than seeing them as personal or professional failings. If my business is my teacher I expect there to be lessons and I know it won’t always be easy.

Whatever my lessons, when I engage a little more mindfully as I go through through the every day, I am bound to see patterns emerging and opportunities for learning, balance and ultimately more joy in my work. If I take time to consciously review and reflect, my work provides me with rich fodder for personal and professional growth.

To reflect with purpose and to avoid getting triggered into unhelpful emotional quagmires I need to be able to distance myself and get perspective, see the landscape objectively and maintain a sense of playful curiosity.

I find planning ahead specific times to engage in deliberate reflection, can avoid the energy drain of constant rumination. If I know I have a dedicated session to review coming up, I can park the self criticism and internal storytelling until a more helpful time. I’m not sweeping it under the carpet, but instead tackling it proactively at a time when i’m ready, willing and able to take the necessary learnings and move on.

When it comes to reviewing, asking “what?” and “how?” ” rather than “why?” helps me avoid getting into too much shame and self criticism. What happened here? How do I feel about it? What can I learn from this? What will I do differently next time?

When I reflect on the lessons I’ve learned over the years, not just about the nature of business but about my human journey in the world, I am hugely grateful that such a wise teacher has stuck with me for so long.

I wonder what your business has taught you recently?