Personal Growth Impact, For Entrepreneurs, On Friendships
‘People come into your life for a reason, or a season, or a lifetime.’ ~unknown
This can also be true of friendships. As an entrepreneur, starting up or running your own business isn’t just about building a company; you also find yourself on a profound path of personal growth, development, and self-discovery. As entrepreneurs, we are often pushed beyond our comfort zones, challenged to refine our skills, and compelled to explore our deepest motivations and values. This relentless pursuit of self-improvement is essential for success, but it also brings about significant changes in our personal lives, especially in our friendships.
What we would love to know is how being an entrepreneur on a personal growth journey has impacted your friendships or relationships.
Maya Mendoza
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayamendoza/
Website: http://www.MayaMendoza.com
“Can you share a time when your personal growth led to changes in your friendships? How did you navigate those changes?”
I’ve been actively involved in personal growth and personal development since my teen years in the late 1970’s and 80s .
I recall taking on a coaching training with Thomas Leonard back in the 90s – and exploring the 4 cornerstone values that underpinned my sense of self – this led me to understand the emotions and beliefs that underpinned my behaviour notably how I got my safety needs met. This was shocking – I really was not motivated by the best in me or by my dreams – but by my deepest fears and insecurities (as we all are at some point). I resolved to STOP being driven by fear or lack, and to the best of my ability find a fearless more self-loving me.
I was instructed to recognise the emotional unmet needs that fed the fears. And thus I deliberately and diligently observed myself and others in relation to me.
I realised that I had an uncanny ability to notice what ohters needed – and to fill that need been very controlled and I was a master people pleaser – everyone could rely on me for anything and many things – so I told my friends that I needed to HALT that reliability and please myself more – live in spontaious and unrestrained way for a while —–
Ha! Well that’s going to really rock the boat when the people you have
“What advice would you give to someone who is struggling to maintain friendships while focusing on their personal and entrepreneurial growth?”
Accept that some friendships will not last the changes and growth you are embracing. Cherish the people that make room for you to grow and make room for others to change too.
“How has your journey of self-discovery as an entrepreneur enriched your friendships or led to new connections? What have you learned from these experiences?”
I would say that entrepreneurship is the fastest route to personal and profession growth you could ever take. The people you meet along the way will enrich that experience. Even those that may apear to blight the journey or seem to confound you. They stretch you. Thise that are like you – well very special connections get made or re-made (if you believe in other lifetimes and tribes of souls reincarnating together for a bigger mission)
Carol Anne Cooper
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carolanne.cooper.96
“Can you share a time when your personal growth led to changes in your friendships? How did you navigate those changes?”
After being on my journey of personal development for a while I visited a friend who I hadn’t seen for almost all of that time. She told me she was heartbroken because to her it was like I had gone on a journey that she could not join me on and I had disappeared up my own backside! She had decided to forget me and make new friends. I was shocked and upset at the time and felt made wrong for what I had appeared to have done. I also agreed to not doing anymore of it!
After much pondering over it, I suddenly came to the realisation that there was an expectation that I should have rung her and I didn’t, but neither did she ring me. Also, our friendship was never one where we talked over the phone, we talked every week going to keep fit and at toning beds – which we did for many years. It was at this point that I was able to let it and her go, knowing I could not stop continuing on my journey just for her.
I have often thought about her over the years sending her love and gratitude for our friendship and the lesson she gave me. And, as I write this, I realise there is still some deep sadness around it, so maybe it’s time to get back in touch and see how she is and go from there or explore what the sadness truly is, if it is holding me back from moving forward in my life now, transform it….. and then allow getting back in touch to take place naturally if so be it.
“What advice would you give to someone who is struggling to maintain friendships while focusing on their personal and entrepreneurial growth?
Be prepared to have open and honest conversations about the struggle with your friends and create new ways of moving forward with the friendship that allows you to put the time into your personal and entrepreneurial growth and still maintain the friendship – if they are a true friend they will understand and support you. If not, be prepared to let them go. ……
Explore the nature of the friendships, and the hidden expectations placed on you. And with each one ask yourself, is this one that has maybe run it’s course? Is this one helping me grow or holding me back? Am I giving it more energy than myself? Is it making me feel miserable and unhappy, draining my energy or is it uplifting, supportive, rewarding.How important is this one to me.
Also what expectations are you putting on the friendship that is making it difficult to maintain?
Explore what is important to you – get clear on what your top values are and what your goals and dreams are and align everything with that.
Realise that one or two true friends are worth their weight in gold, and that it is not about the number of friends you have but the quality of them, that there are like concentric circles of friendships that has a dynamic nature to it – meaning people can slide in and out of them as they grow closer to you or drift further away.
Then, explore how each friendship is made up……. how do you generally communicate, what is it you talk about, what is you do together and where do they fit in those circles.
Don’t take it personally when they drift away, send them love and gratitude and leave the space open for them to come back – if they are meant to.
“How has your journey of self-discovery as an entrepreneur enriched your friendships or led to new connections? What have you learned from these experiences?”
My journey of self-discovery has enabled me to find a way of being with people, being able to listen in a way I never used to, and make friends more easily.
Over the years I have had the joy of meeting lots of people and the heartbreak of some cutting off or just drifting away over time. I treasure and am grateful for the connections and moments experienced. Everyone I have met has shown me different aspects of life, of possibilities, opened my eyes to different or new ways of thinking, teachings and learnings.
Some have led onto meeting new people.
What I have learned is the difference between acquaintances, short term friends and long term friends. That a true friendship weathers the times of being out of communication and when picked up again is as if the time in between never had been. They are there for you no matter what.
Life can be over in the twinkling of an eye and before you know it there is no opportunity to see them again. If you find yourself thinking of someone that you haven’t seen for a long time, get in touch….. regrets weigh heavy.
Arti Shah
Website: http://www.inspirefitnesscoaching.com/
“Can you share a time when your personal growth led to changes in your friendships? How did you navigate those changes?”
Every time I have gone through personal growth things that I used to align with, with friends would start to feel misaligned and soon after friends would start falling away and I would then start connecting with new people and places.
When this happens I take the time to go within and use the tools I have gained throughout to work through any negative emotions, feelings and thoughts about the connection, learn the wisdom the connection was supposed to teach me and then finally let them go with love.
“What advice would you give to someone who is struggling to maintain friendships while focusing on their personal and entrepreneurial growth?”
Be kind to yourself and the people that come into your life, even if it’s for a short while. There is always something to learn from the situation and when you truly learn what you need to you will be able to move forward on your journey with more ease.
“How has your journey of self-discovery as an entrepreneur enriched your friendships or led to new connections? What have you learned from these experiences?”
In this journey of self discovery the connections made every time I have leveled up have been just what I needed not only to see how far I have come but also in service. I have had opportunities arise that wouldn’t have happened but for the growth and the wisdom shared sometimes is mind boggling.
I have learnt that change is inevitable and if you truly embrace it life can become joyful and any challenges that you may encounter you will find solutions to with more ease or the right people will come into your life at the right time to help you understand the lesson you need to understand and transmute at that time.
Veronica King
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronicaking2/
“Can you share a time when your personal growth led to changes in your friendships? How did you navigate those changes?”
Friendships are such delicate relationships to balance.
One moment we can be together, sharing and taking for granted the feeling that we truly know and understand each other, until I step outside the relationship to pursue a separate interest you might have been harbouring for some time.
My friendships has always been strong, not only because we’ve had the same lived experiences, but because we often draw strength from each during the times when we’re having those experiences, added to that, most of my friendships were formed in my teenage years, a very important time of our lives when we are learning more about who we are and how the world works.
I remember the pain and the impact on me when I started my second business, and coming from a place of deep friendship, how in my adult years I stepped out of our ‘friendship zone’ to do something different , something we’ve never discussed back then, nor would have had any aspirations for, at that time.
It came as more than a shock to me when I found some of my friends did not support my aspirations. I have never broached the subject as to why – perhaps it would have been helpful if I did, or not.
The one thing that was evident to me was that there was a shift in our relationship that I had not anticipated, when I told them that I’m running my own business, and would hope to have them support me, it was like I was pounding nails in their hands and feet! This was followed by many years of non-communication!
In the meantime, I was on a path to personal growth that took me all over the UK and Ireland, Europe, and the US, speaking and delivering business and personal development trainings, building a team at the same time.
How did I navigate those changes?
Admittedly this can be a shock that needed to be processed by my friends, because it was unexpected – they were not prepared for that – not in their wildest dreams.
This is where it rings true that ‘people come into your life for a reason, or a season, or a lifetime’! A realisation which came later.
I felt my best option was to keep going, and I did, not because I wanted to prove anything to them but because it was the right thing to do in order to build a 6-figure business then.
Now! As mature adults, we’ve returned to becoming lifetime friends, and in each other’s corners where we’ve supported each others’ careers and businesses, as they too put themselves on a path to growth, and gain a different perspective for themselves.
“What advice would you give to someone who is struggling to maintain friendships while focusing on their personal and entrepreneurial growth?”
It is important to remember that running your own business is Your dream – when someone steals our dreams it is because we allow it. My advice is to keep moving toward your dream. Just because your friendship is broken it doesn’t mean they’re not watching to see how you do. Your success will bring about changes you’ve never imagined.
“How has your journey of self-discovery as an entrepreneur enriched your friendships or led to new connections? What have you learned from these experiences?”
My journey of self-discovery has impacted my friendships in a most positive and profound way. Focusing on raising the bar for myself, I’ve unknowingly raised it for my friends and others too, because they most certainly emulated it and go on to achieve great success for themselves. It certainly open up a richness that leads to creating new friendships and made it super easy to form new connections. For me, this is a great life lesson.
Dawn Friedman
Website: http://ChildAnxietySupport.com
Instagram: http://instagram.com/dawnfriedmanmsed
“Can you share a time when your personal growth led to changes in your friendships? How did you navigate those changes?”
One of the challenges is that on my days off from my job — the thing I do that pays the bills — are the days that I work on my business — the thing I do that I hope will pay the bills. That makes it look like I have more flexibility than I do. At the same time, I do need to figure out when to step away from my business to focus on my relationships. It can be a tricky balance. I’ve had to learn to be firm in my boundaries because when I give more than I’m capable of — in my friendships or in my business — my relationships, my business and my self will suffer.
“What advice would you give to someone who is struggling to maintain friendships while focusing on their personal and entrepreneurial growth?”
Be honest about your capacity — with yourself and with your loved ones. Entrepreneurs tend to be all in on work and we need to remember that we are working this hard because we want to have a good life, which means we need to notice the good life that’s right in front of us already otherwise we’re missing the point.
“How has your journey of self-discovery as an entrepreneur enriched your friendships or led to new connections? What have you learned from these experiences?”
I’ve struggled to find mentors — the people ahead of me in business already have their own support systems — but I’ve been lucky to find peers. I have one friend in particular who started out as a formal accountability partner and who has turned into a deep friendship that goes beyond our business. And part of that is because she’s someone I can talk about the deep emotional and mental work of business. She gets that facing insecurity, challenging ideas about scarcity and competition, dealing with imposter syndrome goes beyond the business and into some serious personal growth! We meet several times a month and I count on those times to keep me grounded and focused on not just the practicality of to-do lists and strategy but also what makes this work (and life!) meaningful.
Linda Sage
Website: http://www.lindasage.com
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-sage
“Can you share a time when your personal growth led to changes in your friendships? How did you navigate those changes?”
At the end of 2022 I was at a very low ebb personally, a lady I had met through a networking group who at the time was not a very close friend at all, picked up I was close to throwing the towel in.
She organised my work, built me a new website with a change of direction, we had weekly meetings, checking on the completion of set goals and helped me launch a new career speaking about my experiences, knowledge and insights into criminals and their mindset.
Throughout 2023 she worked relentlessly with me to consolidate my website, social media and writing. Speaking gigs came in slowly at first and then on a regular basis with her insights, know how and patience launched a whole new me and career, that is a super comfortable fit.
Going on holiday in the December, gained the opportunity to speak on cruise ships, they researched me and all the work we had done throughout the year, with a great website and solid social media, got me accepted in February this year for P&O and Cunard, since April to date I have been on 10 super cruises with audience s of 800+ per session, as well as book sales and travel around the world.
A wonderful friendship has grown and now we work together on highlighting awareness of stalking and its effect on its victims.
“What advice would you give to someone who is struggling to maintain friendships while focusing on their personal and entrepreneurial growth?”
Making time for social and down time is super important and allows you to look at concepts in a new way. When you feel boxed in you don’t see the wood for the trees. a friendly person can open up your vision.
Being the best you can be means you can be your best for your clients as well.
“How has your journey of self-discovery as an entrepreneur enriched your friendships or led to new connections? What have you learned from these experiences?”
New people have offered me new insights and ways of working that I did not see or even know about. Friendly support has made my world a better place. I also work with a younger lady completely removed from the criminal world and her unbiased views have opened many new doors of opportunity.
Marjorie Gutierrez
Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/marjorie-gutierrez
“Can you share a time when your personal growth led to changes in your friendships? How did you navigate those changes?”
I received a message from a very close friend inviting me to meet up, for her to analyse whether she wants to continue with our friendship. I was taken aback, as this has never happened to me. Perhaps in a boyfriend situation but not a friendship. I thought about it and felt quite hurt, so I responded and asked her a few questions and reflected on her response. It allowed me to question myself on how I view my friendships and expectations. I felt her responses was quite judgmental and confirmed to myself that, my friendships are based on 100% loyalty and trust. I thought about events leading up to her message, and where she berated at one point, saying my LinkedIn posts are crap and I should really think about outsourcing it. Taking all this into consideration, I decided that, I’m in a good place right now, and did not wish to continue being friends. I have never placed boundaries and questioned my core values on friendship. Although i grieved the loss, I felt it was the right thing to do. I thought about it for a week and still felt the hurt, but also felt a weight off my shoulder.
“What advice would you give to someone who is struggling to maintain friendships while focusing on their personal and entrepreneurial growth?”
I have learned that people come into your life for a reason, a season or a lesson. During this time, there will be people who will support you or will not want to have anything to do with you. Accept it and move on, look for the right people you want to be surrounded with and optimise your environment. Not only, do you have to ensure you feed your mind and body with the right nutrients, having clarity on the path you have chosen will lead you towards what is meant to be, your true friends will always be there to support you .
“How has your journey of self-discovery as an entrepreneur enriched your friendships or led to new connections? What have you learned from these experiences?”
This journey of self discovery has been a heart opening, mind boggling experience. Shaking my head from thoughts that make me ponder and for losses that felt almost a relief to no longer be carrying that weight. The personal friendships are solid. then I also have friendships that were built through relationships, collaborations, and joint partnerships. People I have never met in person, people I support and vice versa. Nothing is black and white in life, but as we all now know, nothing is a coincidence and the right people who are meant to be in your life will gravitate towards you, regardless of where they are in the world. I appreciate all types of friendships and value their presence in my life.
Sian Young
Website: https://www.sustainableaction.net/sustainable-health-and-wellbeing
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sianyoung/
“Can you share a time when your personal growth led to changes in your friendships? How did you navigate those changes?”
I have a friend who has been in my life for over 30 years and our life and friendship has had many seasons. Sometimes the change in the season was hard if she needed to be focused on something else but I felt like I had a need of her or vice versa. I always come back to love and acceptance that everybody has their own path to live and although it was hard i had to remind myself to focus on my path.
“What advice would you give to someone who is struggling to maintain friendships while focusing on their personal and entrepreneurial growth?”
You have to put it in the diary, hey even keeping in touch with family I have an alarm in my diary to connect with the valuable people in my life at least every six months. If I have not spoken to them or contacted them in this time this system means I don’t lose contact, I just send a message and say let’s have a chat. Or when they cross my mind I use that driver to reach out, you have to make time for life in entrepreneurship. You will make many amazing friends in the entrepreneur space as it is a community of change-makers.
“How has your journey of self-discovery as an entrepreneur enriched your friendships or led to new connections? What have you learned from these experiences?”
The friend I spoke about is now building her first landing page for her yoga classes and has gained a corporate contract from being a member of the Center for Sustainable Action a cooperative we spoke about so many times over that last 30 years is now a reality. We also just spent 2 weeks in Taiwan where I filmed her first 3 yoga videos for this landing page up Yangmingshan National Park. So our friendship has grown, there are always some people you get to keep, some who are a season, all are blessed even if they are not meant to be in your life forever enjoy the gifts they bring when they are. Stay happy and grateful and life and friendships are so much more enjoyable.
Final Thoughts
It seems distractions, and maintaining focus on tasks in hand, are key challenges to being productive. The range of solutions given here are truly inspiring, so if one speaks to you, give it a go, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
At the end of the day you need to find a way that works for you. The important thing is that you focus on what you want to achieve, have a go at a variety of suggestions, until you find one that suits you for helping you be your most productive. Don’t be afraid to review it and have a go with something else, you can always revert back if it doesn’t work.
Maybe you have found other ideas that work for you, please do let us know what they are so they can be added to a repertoire to choose from, should a new one be necessary to be implemented.
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