Mastering The Ego

Rosie has been a great friend for over 20 years and, in the past also a colleague. Because of this we have often spent time discussing and working together on life’s issues and challenges, in fact Rosie was one of the first person to use my Plan B learning activies when I first developed the program.

 

In knowing Rosie I have seen her go through a number of roles, from corporate marketing and training roles, to government employment agencies and now to running her own cleaning business. As she says, all of these past experiences have actually helped her to provide better service in the role she now plays.

 

To me one of the biggest challenges in working through a Plan B exercise is in managing your ego and changing your mindset.  For many people these are the two biggest obstacles to change. I asked Rosie how these

 

One of Rosie’s biggest challenges was “Facing Down My Ego”. How can I go from having a major corporate role to now just being a cleaner? She quotes her mother “None of my daughters’ will scrub floors” A mindset from days gone by.

Businesses that provide cleaning services would certainly disagree as today’s fast paced life increases the number of people who are willing to pay, and pay well, for these services.

 

The catalyst for my mindset was driven by a remark during a church service                “Whatever work you do, go out and do it well”

 

 “Buzzing” a Plan B strategy has also really made a huge difference. I no longer have any fear about having enough work; in fact I am already booked til the end of the year. And when bookings do ease off I spend some time working on my “buzzing” to bring in the work I want.

 

So different from another person I know; very houseproud and a great cleaner who refuses to even entertain the notion of doing this sort of work, ‘Clean other people’s toilets?! No way” A case where ego rules and a potential work avenue is rejected..

 

So what benefits has Rosie experienced living her Plan B life?

 

“Work now comes to me – mainly through referrals and I am already now booked out til December 2009. ‘I feel that people now see, and accept me as I really am; I’m not hiding behind the mask that a corporate job seems to offer. I also get to spend time with my client’s children and pets, an unexpected perk as m own grandchild lives overseas. I love being in control, supporting myself well and having the freedom to do the things I want”.

 

And I love the fact that I’m steadily growing my business using my Plan B strategies”.

 

Your ego is important. It’s there to support you, helping you with confidence and a positive belief in yourself. But don’t let your ego control you and get in the way of doing work that you enjoy, and that could support you, allow you to use your skills and create a lifestyle you enjoy.