The first step is the lowest one.

Yeah, duh, Abigail.

No, for real. The first step is the one at the bottom of the ladder or staircase. It defines the “floor” - the lowest level.

No matter how high you climb, you can always climb back down to where you started.

Unfortunately, some people (myself included) end up falling back down the stairs at some point and have to start over. 

If the bottom step is rock bottom (drunk, drugged, and homeless) it’s going to look very different and take different skills to recover what you lost than for someone who’s bottom step is making a decent salary while living in an apartment.

What’s the difference between those two “bottom steps?”

Standards.

Your standards set the bottom level. This is the bare minimum, the point where you simply won’t put up with anything less.

If you work, work, work, and make it to the 4th or 5th level, but the foundational skills from level 1 aren’t there, you’ll fall back down the stairs.

Life has a way of not letting you get away with shortcuts.

Raise your standards as you climb

This is like mountain climbers who move their safety ropes along with them. Ropes won’t do any good if the point they’re attached to is lower down the mountain than you are.

How strong is your safety net?

Here’s some things to consider:

• Goals are what you strive for; standards define what you always put up with.
• High goals + low standards = stagnation, frustration, and burnout.
• Higher standards attract better opportunities.
• Work with and serve those who have high standards to naturally elevate your own.

A snowball has more chance in hell

There are some things that just piss me off. For instance, I absolutely will not get a retail job, or a job in fast food, or work at a daycare. I’d be highly offended if you even suggested it.

Yeah, maybe I think I’m “better” than those jobs. Maybe I’m “proud” and I need an attitude adjustment. Maybe if the choice was “starve” or “work retail” I could swallow my pride and figure something out.

But since my standard is “I don’t work crappy jobs like that” I’ve always figured out a way to not have to do them. I’ve never worked in any of those places, and (Lord willing and the creek don’t rise) I never will.

What things are so laughable that you don’t really think about them because they’re just NOT an option?

THAT is your bottom step.

🥅 Goal

1️⃣ Clearly stated standards, goals, and mindset shifts that announce to the world that you mean business (“you mean business”…. about your business…. Get it? 😉😅 I crack myself up.)

👉 Coming Soon: Good Future Roadmap mini-course that takes you step-by-step through creating goals, a vision, and a purpose for each element of business, as well as how to track your progress on each! Join the waitlist>>

📋To Do

JOURNAL

• Jot down some things that would piss you off if someone even suggested you put up with it (For example: get back with your ex, work at [place you hate], eat a diet solely consisting of celery)
• Why does that offend you? What do you believe about yourself that makes those things impossible? (These are good things, and we want to harness them to help you level up. So take your time identifying them now!)
• Imagine some things that you want to piss you off if someone even suggested it - this is where you want your new standards to be

MINDSET SHIFT CHALLENGE

Instead of dredging up old memories, or imagining who future you would have to be to reach those things (fyi, putting them in the future makes them goals, not standards), imagine that you get just as offended about the new thing as you do about the old thing.

How does that feel in your body and your emotions? 

Do you feel ungrateful? Unworthy? Tell those feelings to go play in the microwave with a tinfoil hat.

Now imagine I’m the nosy older lady who for some reason thinks she gets to boss your life, and I tell you "you should really do [thing you hate], sweetie.” 

Do you laugh in my face?

• No? Keep working on it until your gut reaction is absolute disgust at the very thought.
• Yes? Goooood, your journey to the dark side is complete. 😈 (We have cookies!! 🍪)

👉 This exercise is part of the Seedling Level Mini-Course & Workbook.

Psst! Tired of wasting time on stuff that doesn't work? Don’t keep guessing what your business needs! 

Find out exactly what level you’re at, your strengths and challenges, and the things to focus on (and what NOT to focus on) - today!  👇