It is instinctual to want to share all of your business goals and dreams with the people who are closest to you.  However, doing this can actually hinder you rather than help you progress in your career or business. 

Being an entrepreneur or changing careers requires a lot of mindset work and a lot of will, many times you are doing things without knowing 100% if they will work.

I threw a question into one of the online communities for entrepreneurs that I am part of, asking just how much people share with their nearest and dearest, and the consensus was that the best thing to do was to keep talk about your business away from them. Not because they don’t love you and want the best for you, but because they do not have the same vantage point that you do. You have the vision, you have done the research, you have the experience that has compelled you to do what you do in business or as a career, you have the expertise. So when you are excited about something or are trying to explain your vision, they do not have the same amount of information as you, plus they are accustomed to your old identity, and haven’t quite reconciled themselves to who you are becoming. It takes time for them to catch up.

Many times those close to us cannot understand when we make decisions such as leaving a well paying job to go start a business, or work for a non-profit. So if you find yourself having to explain yourself to your friends and family over and over again, or deal with their lack of understanding, here are some alternative ways to channel your energy

1. Invest time and resources into developing yourself
2. Hone into your motivations, understand your why, make room to hear yourself
3. Surround yourself with positivity. In terms of people but also in terms of the things you watch and listen to
4. Take the time to find networks where people have similar goals and aspirations as you
5. Define your goals and keep striving, so that you can keep your promises to yourself

I go into more detail on this podcast episode. 

You can listen on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Spotify. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate and comment on the Podcast. To continue the conversation, join my facebook group, also called “The Career Lounge”.