Getting S*#t Done
- krmuwumba1
- Jan 25, 2017
- 2 min read
You know when a book comes along that may not be deep or profound, but definitely hits you between the eyes? Well, that's what #GirlBoss by Sophia Amoruso has been for me. I've been listening to the audio book (Pro tip: you can get a lot of audio books through the public library if you have a library card) and I don't know if it's the writing or the reader or both, but I listen to things and go "DUH! When did I lose that part of who I am and what I do!?" Her language isn't always PG but it definitely conveys the point that instead of just being a visionary, you need to get s*#t done.
I will have to admit, that's probably one of the biggest soapboxes I can get on about the entrepreneurial/start up/networking culture. People can spend HOURS every single day talking about theories and ideas, kind of like a modern day Greek concept of an Agora where the group discusses business philosophy rather than well... getting s*#t done. I have an attention span of a gnat and if something doesn't seem to be productive or profitable, I'll be honest, I'm probably planning my exit strategy within the first five minutes.
Sometimes it can be easy to get lost in the crowd, seeing what we, especially as women, feel we need to be/look like a mould we need to conform to if we want to get anywhere. But one of my favorite quotes (also used in #GirlBoss) is from the amazing Dr. Seuss, "Why fit in, when you were born to stand out?" It's so important as an entrepreneur that we don't shy away against swimming upstream if it actually means we can achieve our goal or the change in the world we desire to see. Even if there are hundreds of people gathering together at an event exchanging business cards trying to give their elevator pitches in 30 seconds or less but no real business gets accomplished, who do we want to be part of that? To be seen? Why?
I feel like we (including myself) sell ourselves so short and we forget that we are each unique and have something special to bring to the table. Imagine if this world was filled with Devil Wears Prada bosses or kindergarten teachers or firemen or politicians, that would be wretched! Why must we always feel like we need to conform to the business culture around us an yet complain that you're unsatisfied with what really gets accomplished at the end of the day. If you've been given the vision and passion to open your own business, don't just talk about it, do it! It's far from sexy or glamorous, but it can be the most fulfilling thing you ever do as long as you don't lose sight of why you started in the first place. If you're ready to step out there, put in the hours, cups of coffee, failures and successes then DO IT! Don't just be a talker, be a doer. Even if your name isn't in the paper, even if you don't have eight million followers, stay true to who you are, have the courage and boldness to go against the grain and actually GET S*#T DONE!
