Tighten your ponytails…
Guys, have we been going through it or what? This pandemic (and election, climate change, economy, homeschooling and… I could go on) has made me realize that there are many things I’ve been keeping in, that I should share. Personal things I’ve learned through mistakes made, lessons learned, and challenges overcome that may be valuable in some way to those that feel they could use it.
Several years ago my business encountered some serious challenges (for a whole other blog post, or more like a book!). It all could seem rather unremarkable for those not deeply in the trenches and drama — Breaking News: Small Business Closes! — But over the past six months many people have asked for my advice on how I pivoted quickly, kept my chin up, and returned with confidence, celebrating what I can uniquely offer this world.
For the most part I’d say I’m pretty resilient and I’ve bounced forward quickly. Maybe it’s because I’m not risk-averse and I don’t like to do anything small. Omg, I even fail big! I can assure you that it looks a lot more elegant than it was, and is. There are days I feel like a rockstar, and some days that I question my worth. But one constant is that I’ve learned that failing is not only inevitable in some capacity, it creates progress. I believe failure creates knowledge. Knowledge creates vision. Vision creates change. And change is what we need.
As you read my perspective it’s important to know where I’m coming from: As a life-long athlete and a huge believer in fate, I’m a shameless optimist. Forward, for me, is the only direction I go. The rotator cuff injury that forced me into retirement as a D-1 SEC cheerleader led me to rehab my shoulder through Pilates, which led to creating my own fitness method, Cardio-Cheer-Sculpting. A real estate transaction and seven-year long lawsuit (that ultimately ended my company) led me to believe that there was a better way to expand CCS online in 2015. Talk about learning the hard way.
I see what the pandemic is doing to many industries, especially the fitness industry. Most businesses small and large were turned on their heads overnight, forcing many to learn the art of adaptation immediately, or else. It saddens me to watch many scramble to go online so fast. My digital transformation didn’t come from a pandemic and wasn’t forced to happen in the blink of an eye. For years I wanted to find a way to bring my method to the masses without opening an army of brick and mortar studios, dealing with complex operations and the risk of even greater fixed costs. I wanted to use my energy, sweat and unique talents in a different way. That was late 2015.
There was a time in 2017-2018 after I lost my business and went bankrupt that I thought my professional life was over. Every day I would wake up and recite my mantra: Laur, just keep going. Be in the moment, even if it’s an awful dumpster fire moment. Be flexible. Keep moving forward. I could have easily broken down but I chose not to. Okay so I did once on the kitchen floor but who’s counting.
Here are my ten tips on how to phoenix the sh*t out of 2020:
1. Identify your passion. What are you fighting for? Purpose crushes obstacles.
2. Be forward focused. Use every bit of your energy to build the new. You will constantly be reminded of the old. Put it behind you. With that said, allow yourself to grieve. It’s okay to keep the parts of your brand that you loved to keep the spirit alive as long as you need to.
3. Be optimistic. Be your own cheerleader. Believe that your better days are ahead. Believe in YOU.
4. Connect with your angels who believe in you and lean on your network.
5. Protect your energy and give yourself the time you need to recover. I didn’t blog or write for years and I also didn’t read things that were written about me.
6. Make space for your transformation. Get ready to hustle and set goals that match the moment of time you’re in.
7. Focus on staying healthy and strong. Your mind and spirit are just as important as your body. Keep your spirit alive. People will try and break you down - Do not make yourself small for anyone and do not allow others to break your spirit.
8. Embrace uncertainty. Lean into it and grow with it. You don’t have to have all the answers right now.
9. Take things day by day. Everything is temporary. My lowest days set me up for the most growth. They broke me down and ultimately really fired me up.
10. Get Excited! Shake the Etch A Sketch! Big things are happening, the sky is the limit, and there’s nothing like a clean slate.