November 19, 2005
Vol. I, Special Edition
Hello to All,
Welcome to this special edition of The ART of Business newsletter. We're glad you could join us as we travel together on the entrepreneurial path to our futures.
I always get sentimental at this time of year, especially with the Thanksgiving holiday right around the corner. It reminds be how lucky I am to be able to pursue my passion, and to have others with me, like you, who share the desire to design the future of our dreams.
I hope you enjoy this short, special edition article, Gratitude Will Get You There.
Best wishes to all of you for a happy and healthy holiday.
Gratitude Will Get You There
Being a business owner can be one of life's most rewarding experiences, and it often is. But it can also be the most frustrating. Especially if you're a solo entrepreneur wearing all the hats--it can be overwhelming. Factor in your personal life, with all the joys and tragedies it brings, and you've got one full load on your plate.Sometimes it makes me wonder: Is it really worth it? At times like these, I get stuck in my anxiety and, as much as I want to, or need to, I can't seem to move forward. That's when gratitude leaps up, takes me by the hand, and guides me. It's like some built-in mechanism in my brain clicks, and says, Go ahead and have your pity party for one, but just keep in mind:
You're lucky to be living in an era when opportunity abounds and you can make your own choices. It wasn't like this for the women who traveled the path before you.
Then I feel humble, and grateful.
If it wasn't for the talents I was born with, and the desire and motivation to put those talents to good use, I'd be stuck in a place that I'd hate myself for being.
And I'm grateful I'm here and not there.
When my work or loved ones give me fits of anxiety and I resent the aggravation they cause, I remember how fortunate I am to have them in my life at all, and I'm grateful.
No matter how bad my situation looks from my stuck place, or how downtrodden I feel, I know it pales in comparison to what others are going through, and I'm grateful for my own problems.
You see, that nagging little part of my brain, the one that said, Go ahead and have your pity party, knew all along the party wouldn't last. While I was busy wallowing in my stuck place, it--gratitude--was nudging me forward, gently reminding me of the blessings that already surround me. Before I know it, I'm on the other side of anxiety, and I'm pumped up with a newfound sense of determination.
It's amazing how much a healthy dose of gratitude can replenish your passion, recharge your batteries. Getting out of that stuck place opens your eyes to the courage and strength you already have. It empowers you to tackle the challenges ahead so you can keep marching forward toward your goals.
Let gratitude be your guide as you travel the entrepreneurial path. You will get there. It's your destiny--the destiny of your own design. Be grateful, and enjoy the journey.
Gratefully yours,
Angel Brown, ART Director
Copyright 2005 by Angel Brown. All rights reserved.
Published by the Womens Business Gallery, Woodland Park, Colorado