Why “Challenges” Are Important to Growth

by | Sep 3, 2011 | Business in General, My Everyday Life | 3 comments

Here in the US it is the start of a long holiday weekend for citizens. We’re celebrating Labor Day. You can read more about the history in Labor Day Explained. Usually this means folks take a break and enjoy some time off from “Laboring”.

Well, I instead have decided to ramp up. I started a 90 day blogging challenge yesterday. I joined this group because accountability really helps me stay on track. This means that for 90 days I need to write and post about something my readers, you, would be interested in learning or reading.

I chose to do this because a) I recently complete a technical course on blogging b) I partnered with my Accountability Partner Ken Pickard aka The Network Dad and we just completed a 4 week Q&A blogging run for my Private Mastermind Group/Inner Circle and felt I needed to up the game in my blogging side of the business  c) I want to see if I could stick to it because this is something I can do from anywhere – you’ll see what I mean when you read below.

You see, in August, I signed up for a 30 day challenge and you could pick any topic. I picked De-Cluttering. I really wanted to declutter my office and my house. It was time for another cleaning rampage. Well, I started off strong and then I started traveling int he middle of August and didn’t complete on my challenge. It bummed me out and I felt like I let other and myself down. Then I realized that his self-imposed criticism wasn’t necessary. Yes, I joined the challenge and kept commenting on the other challengers posts to keep them motivated when I could – so I participated and helped keep them accountable. And I did do SOME decluttering when I was actually home. (It is hard to clean the office when you’re in another state).

So, I let it go. I realized that sometimes you just need a do-over and when life gets in the way you have to take a look and say, “Ok, this happened and now it is time to pick myself up and get back on the horse.”

I’ve started in MANY businesses over the years with partners and by myself. Some worked, some failed. I think my favorite failure was the restaurant and wine bar my hubby participated in back in the early 2000’s. It was successful for a couple of years and then we closed. It WAS definitely fun while it lasted. Is that really a failure?

To start something and do it until it doesn’t fit in your life. Hmmm…what do you think about that?

So, I’m up for the challenge. Challenges – well, they challenge us all (pun intended!)

As always, I appreciate your sharing this post with others. You never know whose life you may help when you share.

To an awesome Saturday!

Written by VaNessa Duplessie

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3 Comments

  1. marquita herald

    I love challenges VaNessa so I’ll be cheering you on! I find I do best with short term powerful challenges – for instance I have challenged myself to push through a number of projects in the coming week because I’m participating in a major product launch the following week and with that has been “promised” lots of extra traffic and media coverage for my blog so I want to take full advantage of the opportunity.

    • VaNessa Duplessie

      Awesome to hear you’re in your own sort of challenges Marty. Let me know how it goes and if I can be of any encouragement. V-

  2. Houda

    Hi Vanessa,

    Without a challenge, I feel bored. I don’t feel it’s worth the reward if I don’t work hard to get something; even if it’s the smallest thing. Challenges are what make life worth living and enjoying! Thanks for sharing this thought with the community.

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