Stop trying to please everyone

This past weekend, I was reading an article about the life of author Paulo Coehlo, and he said something that might resonate with many women reading this article. He said, “When you say yes to others, make sure you aren’t saying no to yourself.” I was thinking about this in the context of a conversation that comes up often when speaking to women entrepreneurs. Women have often been raised to be “people pleasers”, which can lead to seeking the approval of others, and as a result, they often have a harder time saying “no.” This can lead to them under-charging for their products or services in the marketplace, or being too giving of their time and help in general at the expense of their own needs, business or otherwise. It’s important to remember that it’s impossible to please everyone all the time, and in business trying to be everything to everybody is a potential recipe for failure. So, cut yourself some slack and stop trying to please everyone, instead please yourself!

Have yourself an inspired entrepreneurial day! - Melanie