Welcome to the Bold Route journey. In this rollercoaster ride called life, we often find ourselves faced with unexpected twists and turns that challenge our carefully laid plans. It’s in these moments of uncertainty that the true essence of the Bold Route reveals itself—the ability to embrace the detours and navigate through uncharted territory with courage and conviction.
Life has a funny way of throwing us off course when we least expect it. One moment, we’re cruising along, confidently following the roadmap we’ve meticulously laid out for ourselves. The next, we hit a roadblock, forcing us to reroute and reconsider our direction. But here’s the thing: the Bold Route isn’t about sticking to a rigid itinerary or avoiding obstacles altogether. It’s about embracing the unpredictability of the journey and finding beauty in the unexpected.
Recapping the Importance of Planning
In our last blog, “Charting Your Course: The Power of Planning on Your Bold Route,” we explored the transformative power of planning in empowering your journey on the Bold Route. We discussed how crafting a strategic roadmap for your goals lays the foundation for success and fulfillment. Planning is essential because it provides clarity, sets goals, and offers a structured approach to achieving our dreams. It helps us stay focused and motivated, knowing that we are taking deliberate steps toward our aspirations.
However, even the best-laid plans can be disrupted by unforeseen circumstances. That’s why it’s crucial to balance planning with adaptability. This month, we’ll dive into the art of navigating when things don’t go as planned. We’ll explore the importance of flexibility, resilience, and the ability to pivot when necessary. By doing so, we can turn unexpected detours into opportunities for growth and discovery.
The Illusion of Control
Ah, the illusion of control—the notion that we can somehow dictate the outcome of our lives through careful planning and foresight. It’s a seductive idea, isn’t it? We convince ourselves that if we just follow the right steps and make the right decisions, everything will fall neatly into place. But life, as we soon discover, has a way of defying our expectations and throwing us off balance.
As humans, we’re wired to seek control over our surroundings, our circumstances, and our futures. It’s a natural instinct, born out of a desire for security and stability in an ever-changing world. We create to-do lists, set goals, and craft elaborate plans in an effort to assert our dominance over the chaos of life. And yet, despite our best efforts, things don’t always go according to plan.
There’s a certain discomfort that accompanies the unraveling of our carefully constructed plans. It’s a feeling of unease, of disorientation, of being thrust into the unknown without a roadmap to guide us. We’re faced with the stark reality that no matter how hard we try, we can’t control every outcome or predict every twist and turn along the way.
But here’s the paradox: it’s often in these moments of uncertainty that we discover our true strength and resilience. When the ground beneath us shifts and the familiar landmarks disappear from view, we’re forced to rely on our inner resources and adapt to the new terrain. We learn to let go of our need for control and embrace the chaos with open arms, knowing that it’s not the destination that defines us, but the journey itself.
Navigating Business Curveballs: My Amazon Journey
Embarking on an entrepreneurial journey is much like setting sail on uncharted waters. The thrill of adventure is matched only by the uncertainty of what lies ahead. As bold entrepreneurs, we’re no strangers to the unexpected twists and turns that come with building our dreams from the ground up.
From funding falling through to unexpected market shifts, entrepreneurship is filled with curveballs waiting to be thrown our way. Let me share a little about my own experience with selling on Amazon and the birth of the Bold Route brand. I was looking for a way to stay home with my new baby boy and not return to public school teaching. Doing some soul-searching and looking for ways to make money from home, I came across a course on how to sell products on Amazon. After taking a 7-day challenge for the program called the Rainmakers, I felt inspired and sure this was the answer I had been searching for. (You’ll get a sense of how I feel about the program in the following paragraphs, but I plan to provide a complete review soon.)
The program/course is designed for mompreneurs who are looking for passive income. Before signing up, the moms are told they will have access to videos explaining the process of selling products step by step, and although there are no guarantees of when they will be profiting, I was led to believe that I would be seeing profits within six months. The program’s $10K guarantee gave me a little extra push to commit. So, I dove into this unknown world of e-commerce entrepreneurship.
I got up way before the sun, worked during nap times, stayed up late, and squeezed in every minute of work I could. I followed each step in the process, but guess what? I got hit with a few unseen curveballs, like finding a patent on a product I had been researching and having to start over. This setback meant I lost my $10K guarantee and months of research, costs of samples, and precious time with my son.
Feeling deflated but not deterred from progress, I was able to launch products 2 and 3 eight months into the start of the program. (I came back to product 1 later.) My “launches,” as they call it, were all very anticlimactic, unlike the stories they shared of people sitting up all night watching sales roll in. (You had to launch within six months to get the payday.)
It wasn’t until after the launch that I started the stage 4 part which was all about PPC-Pay Per Click Advertising (which was not explained in the 7-day challenge before committing thousands to the course and was not included in the profitability calculator given to check before placing a bulk order, and was not explained by my “coach” during my brief two-month stint with him, who, I realized later, had probably barely started in the process himself.)
PPC was not something my brain was going to comprehend in a short amount of time. I decided to hire an agency to help me with this while trying to learn enough on my own to have a semi-intelligent conversation with the team about my needs, but mostly completely placing my profit margins in their hands.
At this point, you may be a really smart person, great with numbers, shaking your head at my incompetence and lack of due diligence before committing to this venture. Or maybe you’ve never been hit with a curveball in life. If so, that’s awesome. I commend you. This article is probably not for you, but maybe bookmark it because I have a feeling that life is going to throw something at you some time too, no matter how good you are at planning or numbers.
Back to my curveball story… I am now less than a year into being live on Amazon, I have launched three products, I have business debt up to my eyeballs, and my last payout from Amazon was barely $100. The paychecks have been a rollercoaster ride, and the fees are crazy.
Am I giving up? Nope, just ordered my second bulk order of products 1 and 2 and working with a distribution company in Cali to help me make sales outside of Amazon’s grasp. I’ve launched three kids’ activity books through Amazon’s KDP program and have a long list of other journals, planners, and books I am eager to work on next.
My initial plan was to be getting paid by Amazon in six months, start taking a minimum income at one year, have debt paid off, and replace my teacher salary in two years. Spoiler alert: I didn’t hit the first two marks at all.
However, in the process so far, I have learned invaluable lessons about resilience, market adaptation, and most importantly, the true purpose of my brand. This journey is teaching me patience, persistence, and the importance of a long-term vision. My brand, Bold Route, became more than just a means to sell products; it evolved into a platform for inspiring and empowering others. Would I have loved to stay up all night for weeks watching my sales roll in or sell over 800K worth of products in my first few months (like the example they kept sharing)? Well, yes, duh, but I keep wondering if I would have gone any deeper if I had. Would I really have learned anything meaningful that would help others if I had been one of the “lucky” few to succeed so quickly?
Hmmm… who knows, but I can tell you that I am really excited about the other opportunities and relationships that have opened up on this detour and feel a greater sense of purpose as I realign my goals.
Examples:
- My interviews with other entrepreneurs and adventurers sharing real-life stories and encouragement.
- My group chats and Voxer messaging with my new friends that I’ve connected with post-Rainmakers as we lift each other up and encourage each other to push on through the hard times at the beginning of our entrepreneurship journeys.
- Even writing this blog sharing what I am learning along the way and being open about learning through success and even my failures.
The Art of Pivoting
Flexibility is the secret weapon in our arsenal as we navigate the unpredictable terrain of life and business on the Bold Route. It’s the ability to bend without breaking, to adapt to changing circumstances with grace and ease.
In a world that’s constantly in flux, being flexible isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s a necessity. It’s what allows us to roll with the punches, change direction when necessary, and find creative solutions to unforeseen challenges.
But flexibility isn’t just about being able to change course at a moment’s notice. It’s also about being open-minded, receptive to new ideas, and willing to consider alternative perspectives. It’s about recognizing that the path to success is rarely a straight line and being willing to explore different routes to reach our destination.
So how do we cultivate flexibility in our lives and businesses? It starts with letting go of our attachment to rigid plans and embracing the fluidity of the journey. It means staying present, adaptable, and responsive to the ever-changing landscape around us.
Immediacy
In today’s fast-paced world, we’re conditioned to crave immediate results. Social media and technology have heightened our expectations for instant gratification, often leading to frustration when things don’t happen as quickly as we’d like. This need for immediacy can hinder our progress and rob us of the joy found in the journey.
To release the need for immediate results and focus on the long-term benefits of resilience and determination, consider these tips:
- Practice Patience: Understand that meaningful progress takes time. Celebrate small wins along the way to stay motivated.
- Embrace the Journey: Find joy in the process rather than fixating solely on the end goal. Every step is a valuable part of your growth.
- Avoid Comparison: Resist the urge to compare your journey to those who’ve seemingly achieved overnight success. Remember, everyone’s path is unique, and what matters most is your own progress.
- Cultivate Mindfulness: Stay present and appreciate the moment. Mindfulness practices, like meditation, can help you stay grounded.
- Focus on Long-Term Vision: Keep your eye on the bigger picture. Short-term setbacks are just stepping stones toward your ultimate goal.
- Learn from Delays: Use delays as opportunities to refine your approach and gain new insights.
- Build Resilience: Develop a mindset that embraces challenges as opportunities for growth.
- Limit Social Media: Reduce exposure to the instant gratification culture of social media. Focus on your own pace and journey.
- Seek Support: Surround yourself with a supportive network that encourages patience and long-term thinking.
- Reflect Regularly: Take time to reflect on your progress, acknowledge your growth, and adjust your plans as needed.
Finding Opportunity in Adversity
Adversity has a way of sneaking up on us when we least expect it, casting a shadow of doubt and uncertainty over our plans. But what if I told you that within every setback lies the seed of opportunity, waiting to be discovered?
It’s true. Adversity, far from being an obstacle to our success, is often the catalyst for our greatest achievements. It’s in the face of adversity that we’re forced to dig deep, tap into our inner reserves of strength, and push past our limitations.
Think back to a time when you faced a seemingly insurmountable challenge. Perhaps you lost your job, your business hit a rough patch, or you encountered a personal setback. In the moment, it may have felt like the end of the road. But looking back, you realize that it was just the beginning of a new chapter—one filled with unexpected opportunities and growth.
Finding opportunity in adversity is not about denying the reality of our struggles or pretending that everything is sunshine and rainbows. It’s about shifting our perspective, reframing our challenges as opportunities for growth, and seizing the moment to rise above our circumstances.
So the next time you find yourself faced with adversity, remember this: within every setback lies the potential for something greater. It’s up to you to embrace the challenge, find the silver lining, and turn adversity into opportunity on your Bold Route journey.
The Journey Over the Destination
As we conclude exploring the art of embracing detours on the Bold Route, one thing becomes abundantly clear: life is not about the destination, but the journey itself. It’s about the twists and turns, the highs and lows, the moments of triumph, and the setbacks that shape us into who we are meant to be.
Along the Bold Route, we’ve learned that adaptability and resilience are not just admirable traits—they’re essential skills for navigating the unpredictable terrain of life and business. We’ve discovered that within every setback lies the potential for growth and opportunity, waiting to be uncovered by those who dare to look beyond the surface.
So, as you continue your journey on the Bold Route, remember this: embrace the detours, welcome the unexpected, and find beauty in the uncharted territory. Life may not always go according to plan, but it’s in those moments of uncertainty that you truly find yourself and your purpose.
Stay bold, stay resilient, and keep navigating with courage and conviction. The Bold Route is not a destination—it’s a way of life. And with each step you take, you’re not just charting your course—you’re creating your legacy.