Reflections On Our First Year
On September 1, 2020 with a pandemic swirling around us all, we officially launched Core Endeavors Coaching & Consulting. As we reflect over the past twelve months--the ups and downs, stops and starts, ins and outs--we have gained the following wisdom:
Don’t overthink (just do it!): If you wait to have all of the knowledge, skills and abilities to feel fully comfortable and confident, you likely will never try anything new or different. We didn’t know how to make a website, how to market, or how to navigate the business world during a pandemic--we got comfortable and confident enough and just jumped.
Follow your passions (as much as possible): We are both extremely passionate about personal growth, organizational design and development, wellbeing and wellness, and connecting authentically and intentionally with others. We’ve tried to incorporate these areas foundationally into everything we do.
Stay true to yourself (mostly): Passions are one thing, values are another. Living and operating true to who we are, individually and together, has been our guiding force and made our journey that much easier and impactful.
Capture the teachable moments (learn and adjust as you go): Someone once said, “you don’t know what you don’t know”. Through trial and error (and sometimes hope and a prayer!), we have learned a ton and have been able to apply these lessons as we continue to evolve.
Be kind (to yourself): It can be a default reaction to get down on yourself or treat yourself unkindly, especially when things are not going according to plan or desire. A deep breath and acknowledgement of the good stuff can do wonders to both outlook and output--ask us, we know!
Change can be fun (and sometimes hard): Nothing ventured, nothing gained! Sometimes the path has had some thorny spots, including moments of overwhelm and our inner critics picking at us. Periods of change and growth often come with intense feelings and sometimes self doubt (see #5). Our mantra to ourselves, and those we work with is: break it down--one small step and one action at a time. This helps maintain a sense of focus and grounds us in the reality that taking a leap, in our case starting a business, is truly about persistence, and those small bites make all the difference. Mostly the journey has been a lot of fun--especially working together as a team.
Leverage your network (champions rock): As card-carrying introverts, networking and meeting new people can take a great deal of our focus and energy. It’s almost always worth digging deep and we are grateful for our friends and colleagues who have helped to get the word out about who we are and what we do.
Contract out what you don’t know (or like): Through networking (see above!), we have connected with some really great folks who have helped us learn, grow, and look and sound great. You don’t need to be good at doing everything--you do need to know where to find the talent and tools to offset your gaps.
Small impacts make big differences (it’s the little things): We have heard from clients that some of the smallest gestures, comments or connections have sometimes had the largest impacts on them. It works the same way for us--incremental gains by those we support fill our buckets in significant ways.
Boundaries and scope matter (how much is too much?): We approached this adventure with balance and harmony in mind, both of us wanting flexibility to spend more time with family and on personal interests. We’ve been able to stay true to this principle while also giving to others and building a business.
Sometimes the journey is the destination (stay present): It’s easy to get caught up in a desired end result, at times negatively impacting the experience. Keeping our eye on the plan while focusing on what’s happening in real time has made for a more enriching experience and greater outcomes.
Laugh a lot (and at yourself): Injecting fun and not taking ourselves too seriously has been a needed release--finding the humor, especially in times of frustration, has made a world of difference to our wellbeing and our business.
As we step into our second year of learning, growing and serving others, we are filled with gratitude and hope for what’s now and what’s next. Thank you for being on this journey with us!
Be Well,
Amy and Holly
