Finding Inspiration And Setting Boundaries

The last week of June.

Hard to believe we’re more than halfway through the year. Somehow my brain is still somewhere in the first quarter of the year… despite the insane heat outside my window.

I’ve got some work to do today but am starting my day with a little inspiration.

I’ve got my coffee and am listening to a few TED talks while I get my juices flowing. I’ve gone from Tim Ferris’ latest talk (about defining our fears as opposed to defining our goals), a couple of Elizabeth Gilbert talks (that I’ve heard before) and am now listening to the wisdom of Anne Lamott, “12 Truths I Learned From Life And Writing”… which is brilliant. It hits home on so many levels and is funny to boot (one of my favorites, “If people want you to write more warmly about them, they should have behaved better”… haha… touche’).

I pull from external inspiration all the time.

As I was sitting down to write this email today I started thinking about the things that keep me going.

Where I get inspiration and how I pull that into my work.

As an entrepreneur, we have access to our work almost 24/7. Even if you’re not at your desk or in your office (or wherever you do your thing), we have our phones and unless you’re disciplined, it’s easy to keep your mind in work mode. I’ve started disabling notifications on my phone and it’s been wonderful.

It’s way too easy to just keep doing what has worked (or what hasn’t for that matter, just because you’re busy doesn’t mean you’re getting anywhere). The thing with getting into routines like this and never stretching yourself is that you can’t grow, you become stagnant.

I’ve found that the best thing for me to do (and I kind of got here kicking and screaming), is to STOP doing the work.

Change things up a bit, go somewhere else, spend time with people who have nothing to do with your business, read something you haven’t read before (or isn’t your standard ‘go-to’), or try something new.

Next thing you know a new idea will pop into your head, a fresh perspective, or even a simple reframing of something you thought was a “problem.”

I took a little break from my day yesterday to float and do some reading in the pool (water is my happy place). I have a plethora of business books I could have grabbed but I went for a spiritual book instead. I felt very in the flow of things yesterday and wanted to stay in that space. It’s a book I’ve read before but I’m in a very different place now than when I first read it.

Sure enough, I’ve picked things out of the book that I don’t even remember from the first reading.

Which led me to a completely different approach to a presentation I was working on.

I wouldn’t have had that perspective had I not mixed things up a bit.

I had the opportunity to have a conversation like this recently, with Curtis McHale on his podcast.

I connected with Curtis at the end of last year when I had him on my podcast. This was super fun for me because I had been reading Curtis’ work for a while.

Curtis was one of the first people I had come across who has learned to set very clear boundaries in his business and stick with them. Totally inspiring.

So when he asked me to be on his podcast, The Smart Business Show, I jumped at the chance.

Our conversation went from talking about the loss of my husband, starting my business, setting boundaries, and the books that inspire us.

We also laughed a lot, which I always appreciate.

Listen to “Kim Doyal Talks About How Your Business Brings You Space” here

And if you haven’t subscribed to Curtis, I’d highly recommend you do… his content is great.