Tips for improving mindset, when everything is against you. Lessons from 2020.

What did 2020 mean to me and what did I learn from it?

I start every day with a moment of Gratification and  have decided that is a good place for this article to start. Thank you for all the support you have shown me so far, by reading, commenting, liking and sharing. It has been hugely appreciated. 

This is an excerpt from my Gratification Journal. It’s something I recommend you add to your daily routine. You’ll notice that it’s not a piece of prose and doesn’t need to be. Nor does it need to be eloquent or academic. It just needs to be honest and clear.

Gratification.

The year started strong with a clear vision and map ahead. Events looked great and I was ready.
Freedom allowed 6 weeks of travel. I saw Madrid, Athens, Vilnius, Copenhagen, London, Zagreb & Split. 
I met new friends, a new tribe. 
I learned, I listened, I Grew. 
My vision was clear & so was my purpose. 
I became accountable, I grew. 
Suddenly there was a belief in my system. 
I did some things on my bucket lists - Football. I went away with Celtic in Europe. 
Then the great pause. 
I was calm, I accepted it. I went to different parts of my vision board & made a plan. 
I worked months with no income. 
"If you could go back and start again, what would you do differently?" 
I started cycling and reading every day. 
I started writing. 
I formed many good habits. 
I was 'Protecting my dreams!'
People noticed, I wasn't scared to take risks and I went all in. 
I kept cycling, reading, and writing. 
My learning led to a new income. Then events business was helped. 
I became closer with those I couldn't see - I grew. 
I listened to teachings from my past. 
I became proud - proud of who I am. 
Creativity took me to places I had never been to. Curiosity opened up a new world I had never seen. 
I was clear on what I wanted and I shed the baggage. I became happier. 
Stress was gone, I got fitter and faster. 
I kept going, resilience, moving forward every day. 
I know what is important - time is everything!
I found love, I found health, I found happiness and I am grateful. 

So what are the lessons from the year 2020 and how will they  define us?

Acceptance.

One of the most important lessons I learned when I look back now, is how powerful accepting the situation was. For those who don't know, I run an Events business. Panoptic was involved with 400 events in 2019 and was growing. A series of events around the world were about to be confirmed, our turnover in Q1 2020 was likely to be larger than that of the 5 previous years combined. As March drew closer, more and more events were being canceled. I remember answering a few phone calls with the words "I know!" as I had accepted that events were off. Why this became so powerful was, it allowed me to have a strong mindset and not panic. I was able to think clearly about the situation. This was the present I was in. There was nothing I could do to affect the outside influences. Which allowed a clear head to think about what needed to happen next. 

Had I dwelt on what I had lost, I would have potentially gone down a negative rabbit hole and looked for short term fixes.

What is causing you issues or anxiety? Take some time to think about your current situation. Come into the present day and only focus on what you can change internally. 

Bowling Harbour - 29th March 2020. Where I wrote the most important 90 Day Action Plan I have ever wrote.

Letting Go.

Events were gone. Let it go.  
Travel was gone. Let it go. 
Wealth plans were gone. Let it go. 
There are 9 parts on a Vision Board, and it was time to take Travel and Wealth off of my own board. This allowed me to focus on other areas that would help me. It was time to focus on me and my health. It is a Health-based pandemic, so a good idea to get fit and keep fit. Also, it was time to be Creative, to keep the mind engaged. 

I also decided that the news was banned from my house, I cannot control outside influence. All negative energy was to go as well, I let it all go. This included Social Media, the energy sponges, and internet sites I read. 

Letting go of parts of my life, freed up other parts of my life. Things I could control. There was no stress. 

With some time on my hands, I was able to start reading more. I was able to cycle every day and I was able to think clearly. 

Sadly part of the letting go process, involved some staff from the events business. I had to let go of those emotions (eventually.)
Take a look at the Vision Board areas and concentrate on another area of your life, where you can build happiness. 

Planning.

In February, I saw the world of events closing down. I was traveling around Europe at the time and was learning about different countries' event venues and destinations. I was also able to learn what was happening with this virus. 

Very quickly I realised all plans I had made for this year were going to change. 

It was time to look at what I could do personally and also professionally. 

Personal things I could do involved speaking to my accountant, my financial mentor, and my bank. By asking simple questions, I got the answers I needed. A quick calculation allowed me to work out my runway. 

Professionally costs had to be cut across my business. I sailed the ship into calm waters and began stripping costs. 

It was time to write a plan. I opted for a long term strategy. 

One of my favourite questions I often hear on Podcasts  is asked to successful business owners being interviewed - "If you could go back and start again, what would you do differently?"

This question became my motto.

I took a notepad, a pen and got on my bike. I went out one sunny day in March and wrote out my next 90-day action plan. I also wrote out the things I would do differently for the events business. Exactly what I needed for the business. There were 5 things I needed to do, well there were 5 subjects I needed to cover. For 4 months I worked on all of them. I executed a plan. I still remember the day I stopped and said: "Now I am ready."

I worked from March to July with ZERO income. I was then given a grant. 

The planning was instrumental in making sure I got to July. It allowed focus. It allowed a Vision to be realised. I used my 90-day goals to see through the quarter. With my eyes fixed on the prize, I was able to reach out and grab it. 

I remember a comment on my Linkedin saying "It is great to see someone protecting their dreams!" it stuck out for me, I had dreamt of this life and I wanted to keep it. 

Regardless of what happens to you, stopping to think and make a plan will make a huge difference on how you move forward. For peace of mind and for clarity, even under stress - stop, think, and plan. Then work on it. Create your own 90 Day Action Plan.

Moving to other parts of the Vision Board helps with your Mental Health. 

The bike gave me my freedom. Every day I could escape screens, news, people, and get fit whilst doing this. I was able to find a place to think - sometimes moving at 30MPH on 2 wheels, I was very present in my thoughts. Weight fell off me. Not just physically, the weight was lifted from my shoulders. 

I was concentrating on being healthy and learning. I was also being creative. 

I started writing daily. To combat the loss of travel, I would theme weekends and cook food from that country. It gave me something to look forward to. 

I looked at relationships in my life, made new friends, and moved away from negativity. 

What could I do each day to have my own freedom and also inspire others? For me, it was to tell my story and share what I had learned. I made so many new friends from all over the world. 

I focused on what I could control and lived in the present day. This ensured I wasn't anxious about a future that did not exist. If you begin to feel agitated, take a look at other areas of your life, and see if you can find happiness there.
Is there something you wish you could do? Why not start on it today?

Focus on what is actually important to you. 

If I was protecting my dreams, I clearly had somewhere to focus. I was making sure I got my own house in order. 

One of the best quotes I heard in 2020 was "what people think of you is none of your business!" Read it again.
Suddenly what I was doing was for me. It did not matter what other people thought about that. I kept going back to this whenever I felt there wasn't the support from a close network I craved. 

Ignoring all outside influences, including the news, meant I was free to work on what I needed to do. My phone wasn't looked at in the morning, instead when I woke up, I started a series of habits that involved movement, vitamins and learning. I wanted to exercise and learn as soon as I got up. Had I picked up the phone, I would have seen notifications and they could have put me into another mindset, or mood. I was able to ignore emails, the news and social media. 

Write down at least 3 PERSONAL goals you want to achieve each week and make sure they are in your diary. Things that make you healthy, happy, and involve fun. For me, things I did included 100 miles a week on the bike, reading, and cooking new dishes. Make sure you do them, these are for you and so important. Learn to treat yourself as a client. Think about how you bend over backward for your clients, now do that for yourself. 

Also, look at the value of relationships and friendships in your life. How do people make you feel? How are you treated? Don't settle for less than what you deserve. 

Never stop learning.

Pre-pandemic I listened to podcasts, went to seminars and conferences and loved learning from others. I read books, though mainly on my travels. With a lot of free time, it was a great period to start reading daily. 

My business coach had always said, "if you don't know the answer, you can read 4 books on the subject and find it." A good enough excuse to keep reading.

When I started Nota9to5kindoflifestyle I created a habit of writing every day. In order to become a writer, I wanted to consume more books. 

When I started coaching, there was a bonus of secondary learning, I was learning from my clients experiences. 

I learned about a money mindset. A year where amassing wealth was no longer happening, I had to make sure I was secure in the future. Reading books like 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad" and "Secrets of the Millionaire Mind" allowed me to work out where I was financially. Again I made a plan, wrote down my assets, and worked on a secondary income. I made sure I saved money, built up my 'rainy day' fund, and allowed for extra months of security. I made it a habit. 

What will improve you personally and professionally? Start learning about it. The change that happens is incredible. 

Reflection - Lessons from the past.

Another quote that struck me last year was "I never lose, I only win or learn." It was by Henry Ford. I found this very inspiring with the experience of my own life. 

I read The Personal Business Plan book in 2020. I completed the tasks to create my own personal plan. It allows for reflection, it can take you to emotional places and really big highs in your life. Thinking back to childhood, my teens, and starting my business allowed me to learn. . I felt as if I was back in those moments. I reflected on areas where I learned from things my parents had said. How I felt about the way people acted. I was able to see where (& who) helped me build up resilience. 

Looking back into your past for areas that taught you to be the person you are, and who you want to become is very powerful. It was a very rewarding exercise. 

"Own It."

Believe in yourself, whatever it is you are doing, believe in it. Own it. It is yours, be proud of it. Keep doing what you are doing to work towards your vision, understand some of it will not be perfect.  Keep turning up, keep doing the do, dancing the dance and making things happen. Own your content, own IT! 

Books:

Atomic Habits
Taming Tigers
Rockefeller Habits
Outwitting the Devil
Rich Dad Poor Dad
Personal Business Plan
Secrets of the Millionaire Mind
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Vision Board E-Book