Happy Women's Entrepreneurship Day! Cheers to all you amazing women out there running your own business and absolutely killing it! I admire you all!
(Also, a shout out to our fellow Team LGD woman entrepreneur, Lauryn, and her equestrian-inspired company Elcee. Check out the new products just in time for the holidays!)
Becoming an entrepreneur and going out on my own as a dressage horse trainer is one of the most challenging things I've ever done. It's also, by far, one of the most rewarding.
Entrepreneurship has not only improved my business and life skills, but I've improved and grown has a horseman... er... horsewoman!
Three truths I've learned from being an entrepreneur that have ;immensely improved my relationships with my horses:
1) Accept Failure as Part of the Journey
One commonality between successful entrepreneurs and top riders - they have failed many, many times! For every successful business venture, there have been just as many products or investments that didn't pan out. But as Mark Cuban says, "You only have to be right once!"
Listen to top equestrians talk about their journey and their horses and you'll hear similar stories. For every big win, there was time that a horse was out of commission with an injury or a horse had an unfortunate meltdown in the show ring.
The important thing we must remember is that failure is part of the journey. And a failure is not the end. It is an opportunity to learn, grow, and improve!
2) Surround Yourself with a Team that Inspires You
The people you surround yourself with will have a huge impact on the way you think, act, and feel. As the saying goes, "You are the sum of who you surround yourself with."
So many barns are full of drama. And, hey, who doesn't love a little drama? But I prefer to keep my drama to reality TV. Drama should stay on The Real Housewives and out of the barn. The barn is a place to develop my relationship with my horse, both in and out of the saddle, and enjoy time with beautiful, like-minded souls who support me and my goals.
Make sure the people in your barn family are contributing to and supporting your growth - both in and out of the saddle.
3) Patience and Consistency are Key
A few quotes from Atomic Habits written by James Clear (a fantastic book, by the way!):
"The secret to getting results that last is to never stop making improvements. It's remarkable what you can build if you just don't stop."
This sounds great and it's easy when things are going well. But what do we do when we're going through a really rough training patch with our horse? Or when we've had a horrible day a work and we just don't have the energy to saddle up today?
"The bad days are more important that the good days. If you write or exercise or meditate or cook when you don't feel like it, then you maintain the habit. And if you maintain the habit, then all you need is time."
Be consistent with your riding and your routine with your horse. And then be patient and trust in your work. You will get to where you want to go. And the journey will be worth it!
"Small habits don't add up. They compound."
Cheers to all my fellow bad ass women equestrians! Keep celebrating you, your wonderful horses, and the amazing journey we're on!
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