Redefining Success: Embrace Ease Over Struggle

As an entrepreneur and growth marketing consultant myself, I've grappled with a belief that is both pervasive and damaging in our industry—the notion that if we're not constantly struggling or working ourselves to the bone, we're not really earning our success. I confess, I bought into this belief for a long time. But today, I want to share with you some realizations I’ve had, and how I am striving to break free free from this mindset, and how you can too.

We live in a culture that glorifies hustle and grind, where working 80-hour weeks has become a badge of honor. We're told that success is a steep mountain to climb, and if we're not sweating, panting, or pushing ourselves to the brink of exhaustion, we're simply not trying hard enough.

But here's a revelation that changed my life: struggle is not a prerequisite for success.

Let me repeat that. Struggle. Is. Not. A. Prerequisite. For. Success.

Don't get me wrong, hard work, commitment, and perseverance are integral parts of any entrepreneurial journey. Growing in any area of your life is not easy, and it’s not supposed to be. Breaking out of your comfort zone to grow into your next level is inherently… uncomfortable. But there's a vast difference between putting in your best effort and buying into the notion that success and growth is synonymous with constant struggle.

Over the years, I've learned that the most sustainable form of success comes not from overworking, but from working smart. Instead of grinding relentlessly, I've focused on streamlining my processes, delegating tasks, and leveraging technology to automate parts of my business.

Here’s a big one too - I’ve started embracing the things I’m naturally good at, the tasks “I can do with my eyes closed”. I used to shy away from promoting services that were “too easy”, or charging for work that I could do quickly, because I didn’t think my clients would find them valuable…

…because when I was honest about it, I didn’t find them valuable.

And I needed to start getting real about what’s what. Just because something is easy for me, doesn’t make it easy for others. There are things I’m not good at that are easy for others that I’m more than willing to pay for (bookkeeping, for example, is the bane of my existence).

By being clear and honest about where I spend my capacity, I've found more time to rest and be more grounded in myself, which has unlocked more energy to innovate, to think strategically about my business, and, crucially, to take care of my mental and physical health. These elements have significantly contributed to my success, far more than any late-night work marathon ever did.

I also discovered that when I let go of the struggle, I was more open to opportunities that I would have missed had I been mired in the day-to-day grind. By freeing up mental space, I was able to spot trends, network more effectively, and see the bigger picture. Success started to come with less effort, not more.

If you've been holding onto the belief that your worth is tied to how hard you work, let it go. Success is not a measure of your exhaustion. It’s a measure of how effectively you can use your skills, resources, and intuition to create value.

Remember, building a business should be a journey of passion and fulfillment, not a constant uphill battle. It's time we redefine success, moving away from the notion of struggle and towards a paradigm of ease and efficiency. This shift won't happen overnight, but with consistent effort and a willingness to rethink old beliefs, we can all earn our success in a healthier, more sustainable way.

Here's to working smart, not hard. Let's redefine success together.