The Nitty-Gritty:

* How coach & author Cynthia Morris has coached herself through 20 years of growth as an entrepreneur* How she battles the “octopus of lots of different offers & ideas” that sneaks up on you when you’ve been in business that long* Why a trip to France helped open a new chapter in her business—and ultimately created its own challenges* How she wound up with the business model she has today

I am really willing to do that?

I pulled myself out of bed this morning at 5:30 and went downstairs, anxiously awaiting my first cup of coffee.

I put the water in the kettle, fired up the burner, and prepped my Aeropress.

At this point, I realized the dishwasher needed to be emptied.

Now, I am not the kind of woman who does household chores unprovoked. In fact, some serious provoking is usually what it takes for me to do things like fold the laundry, sweep the floor, or return the accumulation of water glasses on my desk to the kitchen.

I’m not proud of this. It’s just the truth.

But I’ve been working on it.

Because I value my marriage.

So, I told myself I was willing to empty the dishwasher and I did it.

Thank you… thank you… Hold the applause to the end, please.

“I am willing…” that’s a personal mantra I’ve been working on over the last 6 months or so. I learned it from a book with a questionable title by a coach named Gary John Bishop.

Truthfully, I haven’t gotten past the first chapter of that book because “I am willing” was enough of a mind-bender to work on for awhile!

Reminding myself that I’m willing has had a dramatic impact on my business, too.

During a sales campaign that I wish was over already, I remind myself that I’m willing to show up, answer questions, and find every last person who is ready to buy.

During a conference that has my social anxiety peaking, I remind myself that I’m willing to meet new people and nurture old relationships.

While emptying out my inbox, I remind myself that I’m willing to take a few extra minutes and reply to emails that have been waiting for me.

It’s these small activities—and often the moments of small “c” courage that Charlie Gilkey talked about in Episode 241—that really add up at the end of the day.

Just like proactively emptying the dishwasher or folding my laundry really adds up in my marriage!

When you’re looking at something like your business—or your marriage—that ideally is going to last 10 year, 20 years, 30 years or longer, it’s easy to think about the big moments and forget about all the small things you were willing to do along the way.

But my guest today hasn’t forgotten about the small things that have made her business stand the test of time.

Cynthia Morris is the founder of Original Impulse. She coaches writers, artists and entrepreneurs to get out of their own way so they can finish projects that matter.