Wow…I can’t believe another year has already passed!  I am doing a full year review and reflecting on all the amazing accomplishments and numbers over the past year and past decade.  This is something that I like to do every year to help keep focused and on track.

I’m feeling really excited for a new decade with new opportunities and new lessons to be learned.  Reflecting on the past decade has really taught me some great lessons that I will use going forward into the new decade.  It is so important for me to take time to reflect on how the past decade has gone, the lessons learned, how myself and my business has improved, grown and transformed.

Transformation does not start with someone else changing you.  It is an inner self reworking of what you are now to what you will be.  In order to transform yourself, you don’t need to do big things.  Just do small things in a consistent and big way and transformation will follow you.  Here are some of the best things this past decade has taught me.

LESSON ONE

Define success on your own terms, achieve it by your own rules, and build a life you’re proud to live!

When I first started in optometry, I was an employee for 6 months straight out of optometry school before I was offered a partnership in Northern California.  I was a managing partner there for over 6 years.  Then, something pulled me to do more.  I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur, since I was a little girl.  My parents were also entrepreneurs and owned their own optical shop for over 25 years.  They instilled in me hard work, commitment and dedication to the people they serve.  Though what I was doing was rewarding, I felt a calling for a higher purpose.  I decided to resign and moved to the Coachella Valley in 2014 and eventually founded Coachella Valley Optometry.

I believe many people fall into the trap of adopting the stereotypical definition of success society offers.  A high ranking corporate position, big house, high income, flashy cars and clothing.  I will admit that I do like these things from time to time.  But I know this is what the WORLD envisions as the standard of success!

Personally, I became aware of this at a young age and learned that for me, success is having complete control of my time!  Time with my family, friends and creating memories that will last a life time.  This is what inspired me to create my business and pursue life as an entrepreneur.

So the first lesson is to be brave enough to defy society’s vision of “success” and define what success really means to you.  I encourage you all to get out a pencil and paper and write down your own definition of success.    This will help you stay on task and remember what’s important.

LESSON TWO

The struggle you’re in today is developing the strength you need for tomorrow.  Don’t give up.

Saying that starting my own business was hard would be an understatement!  We all tend to set high goals and pursue an elite vision for the future.  It is a challenge to break away from the norm and chase your dreams.  I learned that you need to pursue your passion for growth with core beliefs, centered values that will help you build the skills you need every day.

I noticed when starting my business, there were challenges.  But I approached these difficult days as a “Training Day.”  This allowed me to push through the challenges of starting my own optometry practice and create an empowered vision for the future.

I learned that today’s lessons are tomorrow’s successes.  Pushing through these challenges leads to a life of continued learning, growth and development.  I never even dreamed that my practice would grow so fast!  Facing challenges head on really gave me an edge and allowed me to grow my optometry practice.  Now we have two locations in Southern California!  You see…as we develop we also grow.

LESSON THREE

Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself.  When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.  

One of the major benefits of owning my own practice is the time I get to spend with colleagues, patients and in the community.  Over the last decade I have learned that serving and helping others grow is the true definition of successful leadership.

When starting a business or working on personal goals, we all tend to focus on what’s important for ourselves.  Successful leadership is all about serving others first.  This means that I often put the needs of others before myself.  I also like to empower those in my practice and create a transparent and fun environment for my colleagues.  This also creates a fun positive environment for our patients and also improves productivity!

LESSON FOUR

Lost time is never found again!

I’m going to be completely honest here, I have struggled with time management before.  I think we all have!  Running two successful optometry practices and balancing home and work life it is definitely a challenge!

Entrepreneurs aren’t used to asking for help.  Many are accustomed to being the hero and saving the day.

This last decade has taught me so much about time management.  One major lesson is to not waste time waiting for an opportunity or moment to take action.  If I wait to take action then I jeopardize missing a great opportunity!  As a successful business leader, one lesson I have learned over the last decade is how to utilize my resources in order to not waste any time!  Time is so valuable, more valuable than money!  Once time is gone, it is gone forever.  Relying on my team to make it happen and accomplish what we need not only saves wasted time, it allows my team to be creative, grow and be practice resourcefulness.

LESSON FIVE

Great business is about having great relationships!

I learned that it is super important to have great relationships.  I truly enjoy meeting others, networking and cultivating relationships at every level, between my own team, my clients and my professional network.  Focusing on establishing and growing strategy-level relationships with partners and professionals has drastically helped grow my business more efficiently.

LESSON SIX

Be Bold. Be Fearless

It took some time, hard work and sweat to build my practice but I wanted to make even a bigger impact.  I truly enjoy helping others and educating people about the health benefits, risks and information on eye health.  Though I can be a bit camera shy from time to time.  This year, I decided to launch my YouTube Channel in order to better help others worldwide who have questions about eye health.  This was probably a bold move and takes some extra time, but I put away my fears and doubts and moved forward.

I learned that if you are scared to do something, remember why you are doing it.  This helps you to be bold, fearless and stop doubt and anxiety in its tracks!

LESSON SEVEN

It’s Ok To Take a ‘Breather’ from time to time!

Sometimes I am just so focused on growing my business, practice and brand that I tend to need to stop for a minute and just breathe!  From time to time I found myself a bit overextended.

In short, this past decade I learned that taking a step back from time to time helps keep me grounded and allows me to be more productive .  It really helps me streamline my practice, refocus our efforts and focus on what matters to us.  Take some time to do some things you love to do.

 

LESSON EIGHT

Thanksgiving is a lifestyle that you can cultivate every single day of your life. 

Gratitude and thanksgiving has been the key to every success and every victory in my life.  I have worked with leaders in optometry and other professionals and business owners and empower them to achieve great success.  One of the main lessons that is common with successful entrepreneurs is gratitude.

I don’t mean just on Thanksgiving or once a year.  Practicing daily gratitude is one of the biggest lessons I have learned over the past decade that has really played a major role in my success.  The exercise of practicing gratitude daily has yielded remarkable results.  Not only do I find myself more grateful, but I find myself reaching greater goals and rising to my greatest potential.  I encourage you to also do the same!

LESSON NINE

Remember Why You Started!

What are you committed to over the next decade?  Is it fitness, family, your work or business?  One lesson I have learned over the last decade is to remember who you are and why you started.  This will give you the power and strength to continue moving forward and continue to positively impact your life and others around you.

There will always be those hard days and once you reach a new summit, it can be easy to hit a hump and feel stagnant for a while.  Remembering your “WHY” is the best way to keep you going and give you the motivation you need to reach the next summit.

 

LESSON TEN

Have fun!  Fun creates enthusiasm and energy.  

One of my biggest take away’s from the last decade is to just have fun!  Life is to short to stress about the day to day.  When it gets crazy busy, just take some time for yourself.  Go have brunch with an old friend or family member and just laugh!  Smiling and laughing not only improves the quality of your life, it helps others around you.

I really hope that you enjoyed my blog and find it helpful as you move into the new decade.  Wishing you all an amazing new decade full of love, growth and prosperity!  Make sure to Subscribe and to also check out my YouTube Channel.