Recently, a mentee asked me about the toughest part of my career. That’s a great question and an easy answer for me. 📉

In 2009 I was broke, and making minimum payments on my maxed-out credit cards when I began showing up to networking groups trying to get traction.

Abundance mentality was tough, especially when you’re seemingly surrounded by scarcity. I know firsthand because this is what I lived through that year.

To make matters worse I’d just had a potential customer cancel an order that was going to help me significantly. I was real close to giving up and Blezoo would have not existed today.

Here are important lessons I learned that helped me get through the roughest patch of my career:

1. FOCUS ON SMALL WINS

Everyone wants big wins, especially if you’ve experienced them. Until you are established getting big wins is an aberration. By focusing on small wins you become more grateful for each and every victory and it also helps you begin a winning pattern. Once that pattern gets going you are unstoppable.

2. POSITIVE ENERGY IS SELF-FULFILLING

This is a classic glass-half-full scenario. If you’re cheering that you got the glass half full it is a much different experience than sulking that half of it is empty. Bringing negative energy to the table attracts undesirable outcomes. Bringing positive energy helps you focus on progress & favorable outcomes. Which do you think leads to more wins?

3. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH ACTION

I started spending my time around other up-and-coming B2B salespeople who had a high level of activity but hadn’t quite made it yet. I wanted to be close to the fire. These people inspired me to also have a high-level output and to create a network that could feed off each other. Activity x Network = Momentum.

4. HAVE A VISION & RE-AFFIRM YOUR WHY

Most people fail because they quit. I remember reading that a while back. Anytime I felt on the brink I would paint a picture in my mind about what success looks like and why I love doing what I am doing. Any vision worth making a reality has barriers and roadblocks, so focus on why you started in order to have the resilience to get there.

5. TAKE OWNERSHIP OVER ALL OUTCOMES

I could have blamed a lot of things, and I am sure I did at some point! I turned the corner when I started letting go of the things I can’t control and focusing on each inch of everything I can control. Learn, adjust, and move on. This has been my mantra.

I think these 5 lessons are applicable for just about any industry or situation. I genuinely hope there’s a nugget in there that can spark inspiration for you!✨