Strategies for Overcoming Obstacles to Discovering Your Gifts

What are the unique gifts that differentiate you from other solo entrepreneurs? The path to discovering your gifts may take a lifetime, but you can use the exploration process to begin to use your gifts NOW!
Unfortunately, for many different reasons people get sidetracked or never even get started taking the actions that would help them discover their uniqueness. Here are some suggested strategies to help move forward and stay on the path of discovering your gifts.

1. Make yourself a priority. Understand what's important to you. To do that, you have to make yourself important in your life. Spend less time worrying about what everyone else thinks you should do. That's what got you confused in the first place.

2. Build a reserve of money, time and space. This doesn't mean you have to be rich to live your dreams. However, if you're always lacking in money, time and space, you're creating extra pressure for yourself. Having some reserves gives you the freedom to play and make different choices.

3. Have a daily practice that keeps you connected with your gifts. A daily practice allows you to develop the skill and discipline to listen to yourself. Learn to look inward for answers. Consider journaling, meditation or other practices that help you tune out the world and hear your own whispers.

4. Ask others for input on what you can't see in yourself. Sometimes it's hardest to see your own gifts. People may overlook or dismiss your strengths and talents. Chances are your friends and family can provide clues about what's special and great in you.

5. Don't think too much. It's time to get out of your head and into your heart and body-they have intelligence to share. You can't always think your way to the answers. When you are engaged in activities, pay attention to your feelings or your body. Are you energized? Do you lose track of time? Don't miss these valuable clues.

6. Get a fan club. Discovering your gifts doesn't have to be a solitary endeavor. Exercise the choice you have about who to spend time with. Why not surround yourself with positive and supportive people?

7. Befriend your inner critic. Keep reminding yourself that knowing and using your gifts is not about being right or wrong or perfect. Discovering your gifts is an ongoing process of learning. Expect resistance, learn from your inner critic, and keep taking action.

8. Maintain a sense of humor. It is important to have a sense of lightness and fun to welcome new ideas and opportunities. Don't be too serious. Take delight in unwrapping your gifts.

9. Shine the light on beliefs. Don't underestimate the power of belief. What do you believe about yourself and the world that could be hindering your progress? Replace beliefs that don't serve you. Consider creating an "old belief graveyard" and "new belief birth ward."

10. Don't step off a cliff, just take one small step toward the edge. The process of discovering your gifts requires action. The focus is not on arriving somewhere, but on being on the journey and learning. A desire to make changes in your life may come with a deeper understanding of your gifts. However, you don't have to make drastic changes overnight. What's one small step you can take to move in the direction of your gifts?

---

The Entrepreneurs Dilemma

In business, you plan to protect your inventory, your unique ideas and approach, and your money. It's easy to replenish inventory, come up with new ideas and make more money. What isn't renewable... Read More

About Ending Competition

1. Why should I not compete with others?The very concept of "competition" is fear based. Somehow you are telling yourself that you have to "beat" the competition, or "take" a certain share of... Read More

Ancient Warrior Secrets For The Modern Entrepreneur

The words you see onscreen trigger subconscious responses. Dark images penetrate your mind. Your heartbeat increases slightly. Your muscles tighten. Like a warrior advancing to combat, you prepare to engage with your market.... Read More

Competitive Edge

In his book, The Road Ahead, Bill Gates of Microsoft writes of "friction-free capitalism" made possible by developments in communications, chief among them the Internet and its World Wide Web. In this context,... Read More

Why I Should Go In To Business

Rohit Kochgaway was very upset with his boss for his rebuking him today in office. He was very upset with his job. When he reached home in evening his wife got the penalty... Read More

Are You Ready To Be Your Own Boss?

You have this burning desire you want to be on your own. The temptation is so great that you want to quit your job. Enough is enough. You're sick of working for other... Read More

The Secrets to Becoming a Successful Creative Entrepreneur: JJK Secrets #19-21

Hello Creative Entrepreneurs!Welcome to the e-class on Creativity & Entrepreneurship: The Creative Evolution of an Intellectual Property?Let's start with the thought for the day:When you find the destiny for which you were born,... Read More

Key to Starting Your Own Clothing Company

Starting your own private label clothing company is not as difficult as you may think. I assure you that the founding members of Volcom, Paul Frank, Hurley and Von Dutch, are not mad... Read More

Fear of Failure

Of all the real or perceived impediments to success, the biggest is the fear of failure. Certainly, there are often many other obstacles to overcome, but it is this one phantom that prevents... Read More

Are You an Entrepreneur That is Starved for Time?

Being an entrepreneur and running a successful home-based business is stressful at times, and can be hectic. Success within a home-based business though, absolutely demands time management skills, or the chores that need... Read More

Do You Have What It Takes?

I think it's fair to say that not everyone is cut out to be a successful business owner, now some of you maybe disputing this statement but hear me out.I'm not saying that... Read More

How to Start a Franchise

Franchising InformationFranchise oppotunities are all around us today. You may pop into Starbucks for coffee and then head for lunch at MacDonalds before returning home and ordering your dinner from another local franchise,... Read More

Innovation incubator: Build it and keep it running

If your company is like the one I work for, your people are talking about the need for innovation. Mine has just announced a new program "that will bring a standardized approach to... Read More

Outcomes - Thats What You Need to Focus On

Successful business owners and managers need to be very clear about what outcomes they want. Whether you call them goals, objectives or targets, these are the factors that you're ultimately judged on. Outcomes... Read More

Why Every Student Should Start a Business

With the economic downturn, students in all the major business schools have been dropping out of their entrepreneurship classes and transferring back to classes where they think they have a secure future. Students... Read More

Business Is No Guarantee of Riches

Q: I'm thinking about starting a business since that seems to be how most rich people get rich. I don't have any business experience or much money, but I'm a fast learner and... Read More

Preparing to Outsource

It's important to understand when to add individuals to your business model. Adding a new team member should be an easy transition - that's where organization comes in. Clearly defined processes such as... Read More

The History of the Franchise Business - Learning about Business Opportunities by Looking at the Past

Hair care has been around as long as humans have been on the planet. The earliest record of personal hair care dates back 2.5 million years ago, when brushes used to create cave... Read More

5 Tips to Step Boldly into the World & Set Yourself Apart from Others

"Real champions believe in themselves even when no one else will!" Author UnknownTo take your life and business to a level that makes you ecstatic there is a good chance you will need... Read More

10 Secrets of Successful Entrepreneurs

Running a one-person business is a creative, flexible and challenging way to become your own boss and chart your own future. It is about creating a life, as it is about making a... Read More

The Deal is in the Details

What Startups Need to Get a Business Loan, Part 2In part 1 of this article, entitled "Three C's", we looked at the overview of startup business loan requirements from the lender's perspective. We... Read More

Developing A Contract

As a service provider, the most important type of "boundary" you can set as a business owner involves those policies and procedures that govern how you interact with your clients. The more precise... Read More

Achievements Outweigh Education and Experience

Q: When it comes to succeeding in business, which do you think is more important: education or experience? -- Regina M.A: Regina, have you seen the television show, Fear Factor? If you haven't... Read More

Financial Issues in Business Startup

A primary inhibitor of business start-up is that few people have the financial cushion to give up a job for the uncertain income of a start-up venture. In a recent survey, about 30%... Read More

An Entrepreneurs Challenge

Living in the twilight zone has its advantages. In the early days of starting my business, I found the limitations of living in a rural area to be restrictive. However, later I realized... Read More

What Makes a Person an Entrepreneur?

Entrepreneurship is generally characterized by some type of innovation, a significant investment, and a strategy that values expansion. The entrepreneur is often quite different in mindset from a manager, who is generally charged... Read More

Cross Polination of Innovations in the Cleaning Industry

According to the latest edition of Pool and Spa news; the costs of maintaining a pool, maintenance service averages about $30.00 to $150 per month depending on competition, size of pool and area... Read More

From Entrepreneur to Infopreneur: Make Money Selling Info Products

The term "Infopreneur" is a relatively new industry buzz word that is making waves because it opens doors for entrepreneurs to generate new streams of income. Simply put, an infopreneur sells information.Information products... Read More

Entrepreneurship Story; Over Regulation in Franchising Final Chapter

Sally and Jim have launched their automotive franchise business and are now selling franchises; problems arise as lawyers and over regulation threaten to ruin their life's work, see how it ends; tragedy or... Read More