I love ice-cream, but as someone who’s lactose intolerant, finding a delicious dairy-free option isn’t always easy. Depending on where you live, sometimes it’s just not available. So occasionally, I indulge in regular ice-cream and deal with the consequences later. Adding to the challenge, I prefer nuts in my ice cream, especially pecans. Haagen-Dazs’ Butter Pecan? It has me weak in the knees.
However, my husband is allergic to tree nuts, so it’s usually wise for me to avoid them altogether. He feels more comfortable that way. If I do have nuts, he prefers that I keep my distance. (This actually works out great when we’re fighting). Fight nights mean butter pecan nights, and I go to bed happy.
In today’s newsletter, I want to remind readers that we can’t avoid struggle altogether. We can, however, choose the one that leads us somewhere worth going.
In today’s newsletter, we’re diving into how Entrepreneurship feels like living in a Haunted House.
So, there lies the dilemma: I often have to choose my struggle. Do I endure the belly aches from the dairy, or do I avoid my husband for 24 hours? Sometimes, it’s a no-brainer (I’ll let you guess which one), but thankfully, there’s a solution to at least one of these issues. I can take a lactose pill before indulging, which helps alleviate some of these symptoms. Not all, but enough to make it manageable. A struggle I’m willing to accept. It’s kinda like choosing to do your laundry or keep buying new socks. Let’s just say my sock drawer is overflowing.
This concept of “choosing my struggle” was something I faced again when I started my business. I had endless doubts: I’m not outspoken enough, I lack the skills and experience, I don’t know enough people, and who would even want to work with me? I had a desire to work for myself but didn’t want to face these “struggles.” In a perfect world, I’d just sit at my desk, and the money would roll in. But the reality? There was no way around it. I had to choose: stay an employee or face the challenges of entrepreneurship. Because I wanted the latter, I had to shift out of that employee mindset.
When I eventually found my footing, I thought I could sidestep the big struggles by playing it safe. I focused on smaller clients and kept things simple. It worked…for a while. Then I hit a wall. I realized the “easy” path had a cost. My growth was slow, and some clients weren’t an ideal fit.
So, I made a choice. Instead of avoiding struggle, I faced it.
I started pursuing bigger clients, taking on larger projects, and facing the challenges that come with growth. Sure, there were plenty of rejections, but the rewards? Amazing clients, real relationships, real progress, and a business I’m proud of.
At the end of the day, life and business is full of challenges we can’t avoid. Whether I’m dealing with lactose intolerance for a taste of butter pecan goodness or pushing past my self-doubt to pursue my goals, I’m always making choices about which struggles I’m willing to take on.
The Final Word:
The beauty of it all is that we get to decide. We can choose the struggles that bring us closer to what we truly want, that make us better, and that help us grow. Take a moment to think about your own journey. Choose the challenges that align with where you want to go and remember that some struggles are just the price of reaching the things worth having.
Chuckle of the day! 😂
“I told myself to choose my struggle… So I chose coffee over sleep. I’m still tired, but at least I’m caffeinated.”
Shamayne Brown is a virtual assistant and the founder of Camp Virtual Assistance.
She works with solo professionals and small business owners who are ready to invest in their business and need the support that she offers.
She specializes in creating email newsletters as well as other admin and creative design tasks.
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