On my pin board is a red card where I have written, "If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough." I get big dreams, what your article does is give space and grace to the stages of taking small steps, acknowledging the comfort of routine and rituals, (small things consistently done accumulate!) The grow stage. And then showing how this leads to the scale stage. For many of us, juggling many tasks, masters, clients, projects, we can not see the forest for the trees. I recommend helicopter days, where I rise above the mundane, itty bitty details, the scrub and trees, and get the picture from above. I can see the trail, and I can see the mountain top. Then I land and get stuck back into it. You story is a great reminder. Be afraid!
Hi Anna, I’m new here and love your work! I’m also a full-time employee with a bunch of side hustles because I’m desperate to go freelance, but terrified of taking the leap/not even sure what I’ll be freelancing. I loved this post/was talking to my partner about this last night. I’ve often felt like working in a small, very siloed team can keep one thinking small due to a lack of exposure and I was wondering if that feeling persists when you go freelance and you can work from literally anywhere, but you don’t necessarily have a bunch of team mates around you? I guess that’s where mentorship is key and so valuable! Can’t wait to delve into the rest of your posts! 🙌
Welcome! Thanks for being here 🥹. Loneliness is one of the biggest downsides of working for yourself. I recently sub-leased a space in the most amazing office full of creative entrepreneurial women, and it’s just the best. I only go in one day a week but it’s my favourite day (even though I barely get anything done haha). I also work with mentors and coaches. I feel like this is such an important investment to help me gain a bit of perspective on the challenging parts of the gig.
Yes! I like how you didn't totally negate the thinking small stage. If I'm honest, I think this is where I am at. I keep starting and stopping so my goal is to keep going and be consistent.
While reading this, I was thinking of Octavia butler’s vision for her book “this is my life. I write best-selling books. My novels go onto best-seller lists on or shortly after publishing”. She said it! Thing big, act big chapters are important too!
Loved reading this! Recently, I wrote down in my journal some wiiild dreams and how my future self is living. I read it every morning and honestly it's been a game changer to visualise and change my frame of mind from thinking small to acting BIG. thank you for this <3
I know the point of this is to thibk big, but it actually made me feel a lot better about taking small steps bc I still have yet to land my forst freelance client 🙈 and thinking about if i should change the path is overwhelming. So it was quite helpful to hear when you started thinking big, once you had your first long term client and financial stability
I actually think this is the key. Think and act small get going, think big act small to open up your mind to the possibilities without being overwhelmed by it, think big act big to go big!
On my pin board is a red card where I have written, "If your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough." I get big dreams, what your article does is give space and grace to the stages of taking small steps, acknowledging the comfort of routine and rituals, (small things consistently done accumulate!) The grow stage. And then showing how this leads to the scale stage. For many of us, juggling many tasks, masters, clients, projects, we can not see the forest for the trees. I recommend helicopter days, where I rise above the mundane, itty bitty details, the scrub and trees, and get the picture from above. I can see the trail, and I can see the mountain top. Then I land and get stuck back into it. You story is a great reminder. Be afraid!
Helicopter days is a great way of putting it. I also sometimes refer to it as being in the weeds vs. clouds 😊
Loved this! Such a good read when you feel stuck at work
Thank you!
Every week when I read and listen to your content you really do inspire me to think bigger. Thank you ❤️
Always here for you!
Hi Anna, I’m new here and love your work! I’m also a full-time employee with a bunch of side hustles because I’m desperate to go freelance, but terrified of taking the leap/not even sure what I’ll be freelancing. I loved this post/was talking to my partner about this last night. I’ve often felt like working in a small, very siloed team can keep one thinking small due to a lack of exposure and I was wondering if that feeling persists when you go freelance and you can work from literally anywhere, but you don’t necessarily have a bunch of team mates around you? I guess that’s where mentorship is key and so valuable! Can’t wait to delve into the rest of your posts! 🙌
Welcome! Thanks for being here 🥹. Loneliness is one of the biggest downsides of working for yourself. I recently sub-leased a space in the most amazing office full of creative entrepreneurial women, and it’s just the best. I only go in one day a week but it’s my favourite day (even though I barely get anything done haha). I also work with mentors and coaches. I feel like this is such an important investment to help me gain a bit of perspective on the challenging parts of the gig.
My favorite quote: "Do not allow yourself to be too small for the big things that are happening in your soul & in your life."
💜
Yes! I like how you didn't totally negate the thinking small stage. If I'm honest, I think this is where I am at. I keep starting and stopping so my goal is to keep going and be consistent.
You’re in the “thinking small as a strategy” stage!
Just what I needed to read today. Perfectly articulated, as always.
Thanks beautiful ❤️
While reading this, I was thinking of Octavia butler’s vision for her book “this is my life. I write best-selling books. My novels go onto best-seller lists on or shortly after publishing”. She said it! Thing big, act big chapters are important too!
Oo I will immediately be googling this
I love that you've broken this down into the three stages, I haven't thought about it like that before thank you!
You’re so welcome ❤️
I think big and have huge dreams. But then fear will take over and I'll panic into small actions.
I think small actions are a good thing if you’re in the early stages! One foot in front of the other, that’s all it takes x
I find this reframe really helpful for my neurodivergent brain. Instead of asking, what's next? Ask, where is this taking me? 💚🙏💚 Thanks
You’re so welcome! So happy it helped 🩷
Love this!! Definitely the reminder I need to step back from my work and realise I’ve probably been too stuck on the smaller details!
We’re all guilty of it from time to time 🙈
Loved reading this! Recently, I wrote down in my journal some wiiild dreams and how my future self is living. I read it every morning and honestly it's been a game changer to visualise and change my frame of mind from thinking small to acting BIG. thank you for this <3
Oof I love this.
I know the point of this is to thibk big, but it actually made me feel a lot better about taking small steps bc I still have yet to land my forst freelance client 🙈 and thinking about if i should change the path is overwhelming. So it was quite helpful to hear when you started thinking big, once you had your first long term client and financial stability
I’m so happy it helped! Small steps are totally fine in my opinion, because big changes are really just a million small changes wrapped up in one.
Love this. This challenged me.
😍
Glad to see that I can think big before I'm ready to act big.
I actually think this is the key. Think and act small get going, think big act small to open up your mind to the possibilities without being overwhelmed by it, think big act big to go big!