What Do Your Habits Say About You?

"People do not decide their future -

They decide their habits and their habits decide their future." - F.M.Alexander

Why is this so hard?

It's what I have always wanted to do... and yet, here I am.  Nearly in tears.

The roller coaster of emotions that come with running a business. 

We've been taught, if we are't growing we're dying.  And y'all, I subscribe to that 1000%.   

'Cept, here's the deal. 

When is enough of enough? 

When does one go, "Ok, you have enough projects, venues, aspects of your business.  Now let's just stop." 

But if you stop... then you can't grow, and here we are again.  Back on that hamster wheel. 

Or maybe you've started some new projects, additional avenues of income, or grown an aspect of your business and you've gotten some traction.  But not the traction that will pay the bills, or at least not all of them. 

Maybe you're thinking, "Um, this is fun and all.  But I'm doing a lot for free right now, and I'm not sure I want to do this for another year." 

You know, 'cuz those goals that you wrote down 4 weeks ago that seemed so doable  - now seem totally daunting!  Because let's face it, the real work has started. 

Or maybe you HAVE been doing the work... head down, focused and driven.  Exactly like your'e suppose to.  And it's been 18 months, or two years, or 5 years? 

"Maybe I should throw in the towel, I gave it my all. It just didn't work." 

Ugh.  

Anyone? 

Last week I had a friend share with me this video.  She texted,

"I immediately thought of you.  It (this video) talks about being profitable while giving away so much away free." 

The video was titled "Giving to Receive" by Adriene Mishler.  I totally dismissed my friends text at first.  Thinking, I already work for free, I need to make some cash.  Besides, I know about affiliates and of course Ms. Adriene Mishler can speak to this because she has over 4.4 million YouTube Subscribers.   

Over 4.4 MILLION!!!

Well, my curiosity got the best of me, or maybe that nagging voice.  Whatever it was, I caved and watched the entire video over my late lunch, and I'm so glad I did. 

You see.  In this Instagram, Insta-pot, Insta-flippin-make-it-happen-now world, we forget all too soon, that 4.4 million subscribers didn't happen overnight.  Adriene spoke very plainly about how she wanted to put out a high quality yoga class for free. 

So she did.  

One yoga class for free.

Every week.  

For 12 years now. 

And the Juiciest Part? 

For the first three years of offering these FREE classes, nothing happened! 

NOTHING! 

No huge following.

No money.

No movement.

OUCH!

and wow.

One of my favorite mentors Mel Robbins says,

"Give it 10 years." 

Do you have it in you push this dream of yours for 10 years?

Day in. Day out.  

When your hearing no over and over, are you the type of person that would find another way to make it happen?  

If there are a ton of people already doing "your amazing idea," do you have the sassy, brave, underpants on to say, "Yea, but they aren't me!" 

If you could you earn $$$ today or $$$$$$$$ 10 years from now, would you do the work to make it happen? 

hmmmm

maybe.

yes?

YES!

AWESOME... You're my people!  

And it kinda brings tears to my eyes. 

Because even though the emotional roller coaster is real, 

I STILL choose to keep going. 

You see, I started my own dance studio in January 2009, three weeks after baby #3 was born, with a dance class called BoogieFit.  It didn't have a name back then. It was basically, come to my studio, get some mama time and a great work out in.  I offered it for a $1.  YES!  $1 almighty dollar.  I was testing it out on people, and lucky for me, they came. 

Every week I prepped and taught this class.  And many times only 1 or 2 people showed up.  Here's the proof!

But I kept it going through the years while more kiddos were born and a divorce happened. I began to grow and started offering kids classes, and summer camps, and putting out more classes and getting more training.

I learned a little bit more about marketing, advertising and serving my tribe.  And the attendance grew both in BoogieFit, but also other classes.

Then after 8 years, I decided to bring my dance classes online, through Dance on Demand.  A membership platform that teaches people how to dance from the convenience of their home.

Then in year 9, I thought maybe I could maybe offer a course or curriculum for other studios, so that they could also grow their businesses by offering BoogieFit to their studio.  So I started learning, creating and growing that effort.   This is where I met many of you... through the blog!

Now - 

Wait for it...

11 Years Later almost to the day!

I opened a 3000 square foot facility, complete with an amazing staff, boutique, play room, music room, and two bathrooms.  (One even has a shower for when I have a hot date!)

Are you kidding me?! 

Who in the world would of thought this, especially in the beginning when only one person showed up to class, and my closest friends stopped coming? Or when I got divorced with five mouths to feed and I was using spare change to buy milk at the convenient store. Or when I had no clue how to use my computer except for email and facebook?

You put on your mascara and lip gloss with a messy bun and show up.  

You guys, you hoosh up your leggin's and figure it out. 

You grab your sippy cup with coffee and do whatever it takes (ethically of course) to learn, grow, meet, empower, connect, and push your effin' crazy, wild dream forward.

So what's YOUR burning Desire, Dream, Destiny for YOU?

Remember : "People do not decide their future - They decide their habits and their habits decide their future." - F.M.Alexander 

Kicks you in the gut doesn't it?  So go work those habits that will work for you!  Keep goin' y'all!  I'm your biggest fan!

Now, go crush the rest of your day!

#InTheNittyGritty

Melissa

ps.  Comment with your Crazy Scary Goal! I'd love to cheer you on!