Break Tradition and Pursue Happiness

If you are not utilizing your full potential than you are your only obstacle.  Not Time…Not Money…You!

Think about it.  We grow up in a society that instills getting a good education to get a good job.  So, we go through the system (that’s not created for everyone) and take standardized tests (that are created for minorities to fail) and at the end of high school you are left to feel if you do not continue your education you will not have a good job.  Let’s think long and hard about that ideology.

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Now answer this, besides math and English what other subjects are you using in your everyday life?  Ok yes if you are in the medical field you are using biology in some form or another.  However, does doing well in school actually get you a good job?  During a job interview, is anyone looking at your grades or just to see that you graduated?  Yes, a college grad may get picked for a job over someone with only a high school diploma but does that determine the level of success one will have in life.

Success and a “good” job are both relative to the individual.  You can make 6 figures being a successful surgeon and not be happy or even feel that your job is fulfilling.  Being caught up in tradition has led many down the path of not living their dreams to its full capacity.

We grow up watching our parents work a 9 to 5 and take on a second job to make ends meet.  These are the same parents that have diplomas and degrees, but do they seem happy in their “good” job?  They pass down their work ethics to us and the majority of us continue the tradition.

Break Tradition and Pursue Happiness

This nation is built on the backs of the working class, who are employees of the few who have stepped out of the shadows and didn’t follow tradition.  And let me say this before going any further, the working class is to be commended for the dedication and commitment to grow our economy because when you get down to it, it’s all about dollars and cents and without it a nation struggles to sustain.

This article is not in any way suggesting that the hard-working citizens are not to be commended.  However, we need to examine tradition and study business in order to truly succeed and flourish as individuals.

The better you understand something, the easier it is for you to relate and put it into perspective.  There are hundreds of thousands of small businesses and many are selling the same exact product.  Some are doing well and others are barely making it.  Then you have a small group that rise above and soar and build larger businesses or open up multiple brick and mortar stores.  They break the cycle of tradition and go into business ownership and expand.  Quite honestly there is nothing different between them and you except for the passion and drive they possess.

I am sure you have heard this before, we all have the same 24 hours in a day but what you do with those hours is up to you.  If you truly want to break the tradition and pursue your passion than it will take the same commitment that you give to your 9 to 5.  You must be willing to work the 8-hour day at your full-time job and then switch to your entrepreneur hat and hustle for another 8 hours.  You still can get 6-8 hours of sleep and function properly.

The title questions whether tradition is holding you back but I propose a different question, are you holding you back?  Are you stifling your progress to pursue happiness?  You cannot put it on other people or on your circumstances, not in this day in age. 

We have too much access to information to limit our possibilities.  The ease of connecting with business owners and CEOs is at the click of a button, literally.  There are numerous networking functions and organizations to join and connect with mentors.

Entrepreneurship has spiked in recent years and more people, mainly the millennials, are launching startup companies.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 24 percent of employed people did some or all of their work at home.  The opportunity to launch a successful business from home has increased but don’t let that deter you because not every new business is successful and you are unique. 

You have to build on your uniqueness and your skills to succeed.  This is where the hard work comes in.  You must hone your skills and constantly increase your knowledge and that will make you an asset to your market.

We have to think smarter and not work harder!  I saw a picture floating around recently on social media of a slice of watermelon and someone reselling the watermelon slice for $3.00 and then below that picture is the same slice of watermelon being resold by another person as a watermelon beverage with slices of watermelon decorated along the glass for $10.  Same melon just repurposed in an appealing way and marketed to the customer.  I thought that was a prime example of working smarter.  Another great example is utilizing the internet to increase business and revenue.

For those reading this article that are 35 and older, you may feel it is too late to step out and become an entrepreneur.  But think about this, former President Barack Obama became a millionaire at 43 when he re-issued his book titled Dreams From My Father which was originally published in 1995.  He capitalized on his fame in politics and re-issued his book.  Chris Gardner who Will Smith portrayed in Pursuit of Happyness did not make his first million until well into his 40’s.  I can list many more known and unknown success stories, but the point is do not limit yourself because of your age because experience is the best teacher coupled with timing.

We can teach our children early to do well in school but we also must encourage them to harness their talents in their early years.  It is important to teach the younger generation that there is more to life than living from pay check to pay check.  Exposing them to positive individuals at an early age who are successful business owners, mentors and coaches, either in the community or those that you can point to from research.  This type of exposure will have a positive impact when done with consistency.

We need to instill in the youth the importance of doing research outside of school to understand their true history.  Not seeing or having access to positive role models who look like you can stifle breaking tradition.  Exposure to a world outside of the hood will broaden anyone’s viewpoint and potential.

The goal is to be as educated as possible.  Know how to formulate proper sentence structure and balance a check book, but we also must challenge tradition and step out of the box.  Be strategic and do your homework before following your dreams.

Below are 5 tips to help you

Break Tradition and Pursue Happiness

1. Find your happy! What is the one thing that you would do for free?  What skill(s) do you possess that could be a second stream of income? (i.e. Do you paint, write, bake, make jewelry, create websites, etc.).
2. Find a mentor. Connect with someone who is already in business doing what you would love to do.  Make a list of questions and ask to meet with them.  As long as you don’t plan to steal their customers, they will be happy to share with you.
3. Research. Don’t recreate the wheel.  Now that you spoke with someone in the field, research others.  Set up more meetings and get a well-rounded perspective of what it would take for you to pursue your dream.
4. Understand your market. If you plan to go into business for yourself, know who you want to attract.  Know who is looking for your product or service.  Get an understanding of the need before jumping.
5. Get to writing. Put it all on paper and speak it into existence!  Plan how you will make your business unique.  Find your niche and that will be how you monetize your skills.  I love my journal from Best Self Journal.

Stepping out of tradition can be scary but as long as you surround yourself with likeminded individuals, do your research and do the work you will prosper.  It’s okay to take small steps as long as you have a set date as your end goal and a vision.

We are seeking serious entrepreneurs who are starting out and those existing in business who cannot do it all alone and need assistance.  Feel free to explore the website or shoot me an email at JMRidley@MahoganyHustle.com  I will be glad to host a Clarity Call with you to get an understanding of your needs.

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Jacqueline Michele Ridley is a board-certified problem solver (aka board-certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt), Customer Alignment Strategist (aka Customer Service Expert) and workflow strategist with over 25 years of experience in Customer Operations and Quality Improvements in multi-million-dollar businesses.

For information, visit JacquelineMichele.com

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