The way you perceive reality (your mindset) could be your biggest hurdle.
You may have already read why now – at this very moment is history – is the best time to start an online business together. Many external roadblocks that might have stopped you in the past, have been reduced (or even removed). Unfortunately, it may very well be that the toughest roadblock to remove is your own big BUT.
Your own big “BUT” may very well be the toughest roadblock to remove.
“We would love to start a business together, BUT…
- we don’t know where to start.”
- we don’t have time.”
- we don’t have anything to offer.”
- we are not entrepreneurs.”
- we are not good enough.”
- why would anyone listen to us?”
- what if everyone thinks we’re crazy?”
Right. Check, check, and check… on all of these. These are self-limiting beliefs, which are one of the main brain monsters that cripple us from achieving the goodness we were put on this planet to do.
“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.”
–Henry Ford
Other similar and common roadblocks we’ve either experienced or seen firsthand:
- Waiting for the right time to start
- Having a scarcity mindset vs abundance mindset
- Fear of failure
- Fear of success
- Fear of change
- Fear of the unknown
- Over inflated pride
- Lack of persisting
- Self doubt
- Information overload
- Believing that we will not succeed
- Wishful thinking
- Compulsive lying
- Unforgiveness
- Holding a grudge
- Laziness/comfort seeking
Yes, this is hard work, and yes, it is worth it.
It’s easy to tell someone else to remove their roadblocks, change their thinking and habits, and press on. It’s another thing entirely to actually do it ourselves. Not gonna lie. We have roadblocks and bad habits and wrong thinking that trip us up, too. Sometimes working together is just hard. We’re plugging away at those things, revisiting them again and again, failing and picking ourselves up, losing motivation, then being inspired again.
“The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.”
~ Amelia Earhart
Is it still worth it? Maybe for some, the answer is no. For us, we keeping coming up with yes! Working together, making our own schedule, having the freedom to choose…
- where we want to live or travel
- time to raise our kids together
- time for exercise and creating healthy meals
- a rush hour that takes 30 seconds
In our minds, it’s a no-brainer. So, what to do about those INTERNAL roadblocks?
An unexamined life is not worth living.
~ Plato
Name your roadblocks
Before you can name your roadblocks you need to be honest about what they are. Which means you may need to take time to actually process them with each other. Here are the three categories that you may want to think about.
Emotional Roadblocks
We may know in our heads that our emotions are, “just feelings,” and not always based in fact, but they are powerful motivators nonetheless. Over the years, we’ve had to process a few of our own emotional roadblocks… sometimes removing them entirely, sometimes just finding better ways to get around them.
Do either of you have any fears or other feelings about being in business together that could trip you up?
Mental Roadblocks
Ask what sort of beliefs you each have (about yourselves and each other) that might stop you from collaborating well. Also, what beliefs do you hold that might be challenged as you embark on an online business, and whether or not you couhttps://www.lovepluswork.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=355&action=editld achieve it?
Just a few years ago, we were ready to give up on our existing design and marketing business. Fortunately, our eyes were open to see the new tools and strategies that are now available for everyone. That new knowledge gave us the passion to push forward and grow our business in a more strategic way that aligned with who we are.
Spiritual Roadblocks
What we would define as a spiritual roadblock would be any mindset that keeps someone from pursuing the truth about themselves, others, or any given situation.
Have you ever met someone who could not say they’re sorry? Or, maybe they passed the buck on a mistake they made, or lied about it? What about bitterness or resentment? If you see warning signs of spiritual roadblocks, in yourself or your partner, be prepared to do battle. These are the kind of roadblocks that may require a come-to-Jesus moment to remove or work around.
We have built in a number of spiritual practices that help us to be honest with each other, but we’ll get into that later.
Whether emotional, mental, or spiritual… roadblocks need to be named and a plan needs to be formed for how to deal with them.
- How big is the roadblock?
- Can it be talked through together, or with friends or mentors?
- Would more information solve the problem?
- Will it go away with time and experience?
- Could a good therapist help?
- Is accountability needed?
Before you push forward, take a close look for any roadblocks either of you may have that could slow you down or even stop your progress. When a roadblock is experienced by either one of you in a partnership marriage, you’re both going to feel it. It will impact your relationship, as well as your ability to work together.
“God can use our mistakes. He can’t use our inaction.”
~ Unknown
What roadblocks are holding you back?
Whether you’re in business together or not, any time you spend as a couple facing the music and dealing with your issues is going to make your partnership better and stronger.
