6 ways consuming too much can hurt your business

As a creator, we’re in the business of… creating. Consuming may have been helpful in the beginning stages and still can be great for inspiration. The problem lies when you use it beyond the two reasons I’ve mentioned. Here’s what I mean:

1. Overwhelm

If you’re overwhelmed with the content you’re consuming - you have multiple things you’ve signed up for and can’t keep up with all of them. You either aren’t finishing the content (courses, programs, masterclasses, etc.) to the end or avoiding specific training because they overlap. Having signed up for too many things, you can’t make it to all of them.

You sign up for more trainings before you’ve finished your current one, and although you intend to complete them… you’ve noticed a pattern that you actually don’t.

2. Comparison or self-doubt

This happens when you’re consuming and learning ALL of the things from all of the people. You get inspired by the content and immediately start flowing with your ideas, but before you’re able to put out your content (post, offer, etc.), you start questioning if it’s actually good, how people are going to perceive it, doubting that you’re qualified in the first place and start comparing yourself from the individual you were inspired from to begging with.

Comparing yourself to other people is always a trap. Whether they're at their level 10 or 1, it will never serve you. Understand you are your competition, and your mind is the only thing limiting you.

3. Depressed-like feelings

Some of the content you either listen to or all of it together can occasionally send you into spirals. Spirals that make you seriously doubt yourself, your business, and your ability to perform at the levels that you know you can reach. These low spurts have come before, but you’ve noticed they’re longer or harder to get out of.

4. Implementation

With all of the consuming and learning you’re doing… who has time to implement, right? Let’s say you try some things here and there, but it’s only bits and pieces of what you can remember, or maybe you even have to re-listen to specific training over again. All your time is spent on consuming and living life; there’s no room for implementing or testing any practices in your business that you’re consuming. Thus, no growth.

5. Stunts your creativity

You have so many other people's thoughts and opinions on so many things you don’t even know your thoughts anymore. You’re hearing so much your mind is only focusing on what you’re hearing or heard that you struggle to think of anything outside of what you’re consuming or anything new. Ideas aren’t flowing like they used to or not in great depth. You have to research, using Chat GPT, the courses, content, and there you go down another rabbit hole for hours.

6. Stops you from putting things out

Have you noticed that you can come up with some great idea or get a fantastic download only to hear or learn that someone else has already come up with that thing in a slightly different way? You may have had that idea or concept all written out beforehand, but after consuming their spin on it, you doubt your own. You might also even hesitate, or worse, decide never to put out that idea, that post, or that training because so and so already did something like it. You’re afraid they or others might see it and think you copied or stole it from them.

If any or all of this sounds like you, my friend, it's time to stop consuming and quiet the noise. Stop buying all the courses, training, and things you think you need to start, scale, and grow yourself or your business. This is all procrastination at its finest, sending signals that you’re not ready, capable, good enough, qualified, etc.

Ways to help you move forward:

1. Create before you consume -

This has been a game-changer for me. I used to wake up, dive straight into consuming the training, and cram as much as possible before the meetings/hot seats started, so I was prepped and ready. Now, I do my own creating first thing in the morning. Because I have two kids under 5 I get up earlier to allow myself this time to really get centered with myself, my own thoughts and be in peace to think clear and free. This means I create the post, the blog, the podcast episode, BEFORE ever touching my phone, opening IG or Pinterest and diving straight into my content that I want to create. Ironically, in doing this consistently I've noticed a huge decline in using these platforms to scroll entirely.

2. Journal -

I particularly recommend this for anyone that is just so in there own head that they can’t even think straight. I encourage you to set 10 minutes aside to freeform write. This means to continuously write whatever is being said in your head, write it all out even if it doesn’t make sense or even keep repeating yourself. You can even write on one page and write over what you’ve already written. You can also just talk out loud if that is more comfortable to you. The point is to just allow your thoughts to come up and out initially to clear the block and allow it to move through your body and mind.

3. Give yourself a break -

We don’t do this enough. Depending on your enneagram type (not sure what yours is, click here) you may be pushing yourself too hard and always focused on business. We’re so caught up in the development of the business and we can almost attach our personal identity with its success or lack thereof. Let me be clear, your business is separate from you as an individual. They can be both integrated with each other, but it's important you understand that they are in fact separate. Your personality and lifestyle may very well be your brand. But, it is just that. I can go really deep here, but the simplest way I can explain is that you have a brand identity and an individual identity. Your brand is a tool to help you achieve your business goals, but it doesn't define your worth as an individual, a wife, or a mother. You extend beyond the success of your brand. So it’s important to understand that and give yourself the attention and self-care you need to be able to show up at your best.

4. Self-compassion -

Know the season you’re in and embrace it with acceptance. This was probably by far the hardest lesson for me. I’ve always been someone who could never settle and constantly climb. While that’s great to be ambitious, the problem occurs if you’re never happy or only for a brief moment. As you may have experienced yourself, there’s always a new goal to reach or a new mountain to climb. The key is truly to enjoy the journey and you can do this by accepting where you are currently and using all of the resources you have now, on your journey. There isn’t a destination because it doesn't stop, so enjoy it and have fun along the way. Comparison robs this harmony from us… so protect your energy by accepting where you are, what you have and doing the best that you can at this time. Offering yourself compassion for anything that isn’t and allowing what is to be.

5. Be present in anything you do

If I’ve learned anything it’s if you’re going to show up, show up fully… be present in all that you’re doing in any given moment. It's easier said than done, but you will be happier for it and more successful in it all.

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