Happy Thanksgiving! I was sitting here thinking about all the things that I’m thankful for. I’m thankful for friends family, my church family, my pastor, my first lady, my social media friends, life, health, all the things we think about this time of year.
I am thankful to God for an amazing but challenging year. The scripture says that we should thank God “in” all things not “for” all things, I’m glad about that little distinction. I’ve had an eventful year but not all of these events were joyful, some were painful, energy draining and made me feel helpless.
I’m always mindful of scripture but sometimes life can dish out things that makes you even question your faith.
I began this year as I always do with goals…and for the most part my goals have all been accomplished but there is always the entrepreneurial stuff. Ever changing social media, branding and finding the ideal client that needs and will benefit from my products or services. There is constant learning to get better at everything. This year my own personal growth emphasis was on speaking. I gave approximately 25 speeches, won two trophies for speaking contest, and competed in one of Toastmasters most important speaking contest at Callaway Gardens.
For entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, mompreneurs, wanabepreneurs, or whatever-preneurs, learning is pretty much on-going. I don’t mind that because I’m a lifelong learner. I even was able to say “yes” to a few things that were not planned but were productive and profitable activities! Namely, participating and speaking at “The Biggest Comeback” and being a co-author of the book Resilience: Living Life By Design, which was endorsed by Barbara Corcoran of the Shark Tank. I met some wonderful people, established relationships and gained insight into areas where I needed help, for that I am extremely thankful!
With all of that, I have to admit, I thought about quitting a lot this year. This work is hard! It’s much harder than most people think. When most people decide to become entrepreneurs or a small business owners they have no idea how hard it is. For me the challenge was that I’ve never been “all in” I’ve always had the bridge job to stabilize my life style but not anymore. My contract ended without another to replace it for the first time in four years.
Life happens and this year was one of those years. Loss, death and negative events all reared their ugly heads and while I survived, I felt wounded nonetheless. Going through the challenges and knowing that there was nothing I could do about it was tough. I thought about quitting. I reasoned about why I should continue. I even felt sorry for myself.
It was at that point that I realized… I was feeling sorry for myself!
Feeling sorry for myself is NOT ALLOWED! I will NOT use any of this as an excuse to quit!
Today, I’m glad that I didn’t quit!
No, things aren’t perfect, but I’m resilient, optimistic, talented, blessed beyond measure and I know the best is yet to come!
My cousin Towanna (RIP), who was more like a sister than a cousin (she and I were both raised by our grandparents) gave me a quote that I keep on my desk in my office it says,
“When you have come to the edge of all the light you know, and are about to step off to the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing one or two things will happen, there will be something solid to stand on or you will be taught how to fly.”
I’m looking forward to see what God has in store for me
Right now, I’m moving forward with what I’ve been doing for the past eleven years, speaking, building websites, creating graphics, creating products, and growing my social media reach, training/coaching/consulting, blogging and podcasting.
I’m getting ready for 2016
Whatever you’re working on keep on going you’re going to make it! Happy Thanksgiving!
Check out my event photos on Flickr! See photos from conferences.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/teresitaglasgow/albums/
Pearls & Flip Flops – Hilton Head, SC
Odyssey Media – In The Black (Atlanta, GA)
Activate Conference 20K15- Atlanta, GA
The Biggest Comeback – Washington, DC
Note: That is not a Patti Labelle Pie in the header but I have got to taste one! 🙂
