A lean approach
To get more of what you want.
At the beginning of my entrepreneurship journey, I didn’t believe a lean system, goal list, or strategy would get me very far. It felt more comfortable to pile on more, more, and more as if it was going to get me a trophy of recognition for how much I can do. I obviously didn’t get one and you can’t blame me for having this perspective. In the early 2010s, it’s what hustle culture was glorifying and consistently teaching, but I grew smarter than that when I realized this shit is a lie and it sucks.
The thing for me was, and still is, building something that’s long lasting is the ultimate goal. Being an entrepreneur isn’t just for funsies — it’s fueled by my creativity and what that creativity does with what I support other creatives with. It isn’t only to financially hold my family and me, but also to support the lifestyle I want for years to come — for the way I want to work and leave my imprint on this world.
This journey feels like 100 years in the making, and even if I realized early on that this perspective wasn’t the vibe at all, it did begin with its mindset. Giving me tools that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. What I know now, that I couldn’t grasp back then, is that building something that’s long lasting with a lean approach is so much more appealing than a pile of things to do. Most of it ends up being noise anyway.
That’s why the lean strategy I’ve adopted so far has been my favorite.
I made the choice to significantly cut back on what I was doing for business this year. I had gotten into a really bad habit of burning everything down, starting back again, pivoting into something new, piling on more, and expecting it to just click and work. I thought I left behind the piling on more mentality, and while pivoting, burning everything down, and starting back up again is part of life (and it actually benefits me in many other parts of my own) a lot of what I was doing it for wasn’t supporting positive momentum. If anything, it helped me remain stuck and confused.
I’m still working through this, it’s probably a lesson I’ll continue coming back to, but when I reflected on the areas where this faster pace approach actually clicks and works, it’s because I’m not doing the most to get what I want. I’m not trying so damn hard. I’m trusting the process. I’m aligning my actions. I’m embodying exactly who I say I am, and if I can’t, I lean on the tools that support me to get there.
I’m also not piling on more, more, and more to fill a void of what’s not immediately manifesting. I put clear focus on what I want and say no to everything else that doesn’t benefit it. Then my energy through whatever the actions are, remains consistent regardless of the circumstances. I keep attention on what matters most to stay holding the vision.
To hold my vision this year, every quarter has a lean strategy with 3 anchor areas (5 is the absolute max). It remains lean so the quarter doesn’t feel scattered. So the actions I do take align with the focuses I’ve put in place, because I’m done coming to a threshold to only let it go the moment I begin experiencing an inkling of positive momentum. I’m done getting to a threshold, not staying with it, and skipping what I need to grow into the next season.
During moments like this, it’s easy to forget that growth’s about what compounds over time. Rushing from one thing to the next, like I’ve been doing in business, makes getting to wherever you want that much harder. But here’s the question I ask myself that supports the anchor areas for the season when I start getting antsy, overwhelmed, or scatter-brained:
What can I accomplish right now, within my control, that I can dedicate ongoing time to?
Ongoing time that’s not just about taking action, but with true focus. Where there’s awareness that tension will come up, but I’m more than capable of finding ways to support my wellbeing so I don’t get off track.
This year is the year of simplification in business. I’ve already created a content ecosystem I can actually create for, I’m not rushing my process, and I’ve organically talked about my current offer as I planned. Being able to remain dedicated to this has made me realize I don’t have to continue making things so complicated. I don’t need to continue giving myself more work, without intentionally choosing to, just because it worked in the past.
The future version of me, the one who gets to the vision, isn’t as far away as it can sometimes feel. She’s the woman and creative leader I am today. She just requires my willingness to continue strengthening the muscle of following through with what I say I’m going to do. Not out of force. Not without the opportunity to change my mind, but with dedication to what unfolds over time. With dedication to the bigger vision I have for myself.
That’s what businesses require — your craft, the talent (that’s you), and the actions that spark ongoing momentum towards your goals.
I’m aware of some of the words I’m using in this essay. I’ve always been curious about how culture and language change their meaning over time. Where the words themselves and feelings towards them shift, depending on how we’ve collectively been in conversation about them, the context they come up in, and how it’s been repeated. I know that there are words and phrases that as creatives, we have a negative reaction to, but I do believe we’ve ruined ones like consistent, dedication, don’t give up, keep going, and the like.
If I’m honest, I can’t find any other words to capture most of my journey.
I’ve only accomplished what I have because of my consistency. I’ve only accomplished what I have because of dedication. I’ve only accomplished what I have because I’ve double-downed on my vision and what it takes to get there.
Which is why the only offer I have right now is to support creatives to do the same.
When I first created Anchor Session, it was with the intention to create a strategy clients can walk away with. It’s still part of the offer, but as I’ve been getting more comfortable talking about it, it’s so much more than that. At its core, Anchor Session is where you get clear about what can be accomplished right now. Where anchor areas are identified, to not only match the current reality but also in support of the threshold moments you’re willing to stay with.
Like I shared about my own, they’re incredibly supportive. They’ve helped me stay on track with simplifying my business in a way that actually aligns with what I want. I might not have everything yet, but it doesn’t mean I haven’t gained some part of it. And as I continue this road, it’ll be with these small wins that will amount to everything.
I’m Ylani Estwick, a fellow visionary who supports creatives step into their leadership and voice. In my world, we understand what’s underneath the strategy before creating it, because your experience is what informs it best. If you find yourself subscribed to The Cornerstone, thank you so much for your support!
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