THREE SUCCESS MYTHS

I left the meeting feeling excited, terrified, and slightly nauseous. “What did I just do?” “Have I made a mistake?” “Who do I think I am?”

I walked home with weak knees as these three questions circled in my mind. I had just signed my first commercial lease during a pandemic.

Success does not look or feel like you think it will. When I first started my business in 2013, I had dreams of having a jewellery studio walking distance from home, with big bright windows, a place to showcase the line to buyers and enough room to host events. Now I had it.

But here is what no one tells you about reaching the next level:

SUCCESS MYTH #1:

You are going to feel ready.

Three months before the meeting (the one where I walked away feeling ill), the thought of having a separate space for my business seemed crazy. I had been working from home for the last seven years, and only three of those were without a side job.

Six months before that meeting, the world had gone on lockdown due to COVID-19.

For someone who does not like change, this was a lot. When I decided to start looking for a commercial space, I went from searching for offices around 100sqft to finally signing for a full 450sqft studio. At no point did I feel ready. But that is the big myth— you never feel prepared for the next step.

Here is why:

You are not the person you need to be to get to the next step yet. But once you take the leap, you begin to adapt to this new level. You start becoming the person required for the job.

You have to trust your intuition. Trust that you would never put yourself in a situation that you could not manage. Plus, there is no failure in trying—the worst-case scenario is that you will learn a lot.

SUCCESS MYTH #2:

Once you reach it, you will be satisfied.

So you have fulfilled a dream. Now what?

Have you ever gotten that new job, ample opportunity, flashy award, and within a month, you already feel as though you have surpassed it? We are hardwired to progress, making “success” a finish line that continuously moves further away. This is a good thing. Often, the times we start to feel satisfied is when we begin to slip. We get sloppy. We stop putting in the effort for our bosses, spouses, kids. We lose the drive to grow.

You are likely never to be completely satisfied with your level of success, but that is ok. It is what keeps you striving and succeeding.

Appreciate what you have, and keep moving forward.

SUCCESS MYTH #3:

It has to do with money.

Success, to many, means a bank account with lots of digits in it. And yes, money can make life wonderful. It solves problems, creates opportunities, and allows for freedom. But it is important to remember that even if your vision of success is one of monetary abundance, money itself cannot make you successful. Your health, state of your relationships, and personal

growth are directly related to your feeling of success.

So here is what I have learned so far:

Do not forget the wins along the way, no matter the size.

Keep striving and keep adapting to your new level of success.

Don’t underestimate your intuition, and trust yourself—weak knees and all.

By: LEAH YARD

Author Bio: Leah Yard is a Vancouver Jewellery Stylist / Designer and the Owner behind Leah Yard Designs (est. 2013). With an unusual upbringing, including growing up on a series of lighthouse islands, she has turned her experience of isolated living into a passion for creating a community with her brand platform.

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