Springfield Business Journal_2020-12-25

DEC. 28, 2020-JAN. 3, 2021 7 Check your motives. Quit caring what people think or what you look like. That takes a lot of pressure off. If I’m doing something for the right reason, I’m not concerned with explaining it or defending it. It’s just the right course of action for me. There is no vacillating or second-guessing. If you feel confident about a decision, you’re usually on the right track. 6 Reset expectations. When life throws us curveballs, it’s easy to get frustrated and lose heart. Since adapting to losing my leg, I learned to figure out different ways of doing things. It’s not always pretty, but determination can make up for a lot. Every day, we start with a limited supply of energy. Expecting myself to be able to do what I used to do with two legs will just drag me down. “I used to be able to …” will kill your soul after a while. Forget about it. You’ve got a new life to get on with. Get real. People relate to real people who struggle – way more than people who look like they have it all together. Be genuine and hear what people are really saying. 9 10 Preparation. In life and in business, being prepared changes everything. I’ve found when I have more energy, I’m likely to do something extra just to get it out of the way for when I need it next time. It’s the “stitch in time saves nine” motto. It’s funny how something so simple can pump up your psyche so much. Know when to cut your losses. In business and in life, we face decisions every day. Not everything is good for us or meant to happen. When I find myself encountering obstacle after obstacle, I have to ask myself – what for? At what cost? Change is scary and messy but rewards of living a more peaceful life can’t be beat. 8 Janet Susdorf Founder, Brainpower for Hire LLC MCKENZIE ROBINSON SP RINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 9 There is no reason I should be alive. Knowing the odds and believing them are two different things. “