Happy vernal equinox, everyone, and congratulations…
…you made it through another winter!
I like benchmarks, as you are undoubtedly aware by now.
Because the beginning of spring lands between the 20th and 22nd every year, that means that the First Quarter ends in about a week and a half.
Plus, there’s the whole “everything coming back to life” thing.
With all of its circle of life connotations.
So…hope springs eternal. Right?
That phrase is attributed to an 18th century English poet named Alexander Pope, but it came to mind for me this morning because of the horror author Stephen King.
He of the late 20th century, of course.
Do you remember a collection of four novellas published under the title “Different Seasons?”
Hope Springs Eternal was the subtitle of the first one, and it hit me that it was one of the best damned stories he ever wrote, “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.”
Made more so by the fact the movie version didn’t butcher the story, as has happened with some of his other stories. Every character was perfectly cast, and Tim Robbins should’ve won the Oscar.
My opinion, of course.
Hope springs eternal has become, in our understanding, a phrase that is basically a response to an unfortunate circumstance or unwelcome event, but in our usage for today I want to propose a different outlook.
You, gentle-entrepreneur, are a man or woman of courage to undertake creating a living, and a life, through the efforts of your own skill or hard work anyway.
Take a moment to soak that in. You are brave, and doing something most people are afraid to do.
Speaking of that: how IS your 1st Quarter performance so far?
Everything you hoped? Not quite there, but on track to scale in Quarter2?
Blowing it up beyond your wildest dreams?
No matter what, take a moment to recognize.
You are doing an amazing thing.
Did you know in 2019 that 28% of Americans were considered self-employed?
No?
Well, did you know that statistically 4 out of 5 businesses do not succeed beyond their second year?
Let me do a little math for you: multiply 28% by 20%, and that means if you’re in your third year in business and making money with an eye on steady income or growth you are one of just 5.6% of people?
That’s a small enough fraction to convince you that you’re doing something pretty special.
It’s not easy convincing yourself in the beginning that you can do something that isn’t going to result in guaranteed pay from Day One.
Remember this important point, too: when we talk about the successes of others there’s a tendency to say dismissive things such as, “Well, she was in the right place at the right time,” or, “I wish I had that kind of luck.
These people don’t see the false starts. The minor crises. The frustrating setbacks.
The failures.
I will say that, despite the knowledge I took away from learning how to start my first business, it did not succeed.
The business we’re running now really didn’t make enough to feed us for a couple of years, either.
It took a little courage to get the wheel spinning, but mostly?
It took a stubborn refusal to quit, or to lose.
You only lose when you quit for the last time.
So, entrepreneur, if you’re enjoying the fruits of your labors, and looking for increased profit and growth in the 2nd Quarter of 2022, congratulations!
Take a moment on this fine spring equinox day, sit quietly, and celebrate YOU for a moment.
Hope springs eternal, baby.