5 Ways to Staying Humble and Hungry

Always stay humble and kind. That’s a line from a country song, that I am now seeing everywhere in stores on signs to purchase for my home. For a long while, I’ve thought humble and kind really meant stay back, let other people in front of me, watch other people do what I want to do, have goals but only wish for them, instead if it happens it happens, keep my life out of the spotlight on social media, only share a few things a year, but watch everyone else share daily….I could go on. Have you felt this way?

There is no reason you can’t be humble, kind AND hungry.

It’s okay to want something more for your life. It’s okay to want to make more money so you can take care of your family. It’s okay to want to bring home the bacon. But here’s the thing I have gotten stuck on – I have a one track mind sometimes – I want to bring home the bacon, but I want to cook it up too.

I want to work and do something meaningful and not miss a thing that’s going on with my family. I want it all I guess.

Then I think of that word that’s always circling – balance. We all want it, we all need it, but we have no idea how to get it. Or what it feels like to have it especially if we are a working all day and coming home to a busy family in the evening where we don’t even get a moment to have a bathroom break before jumping into making dinner, helping with homework, scrambling to the next evening meeting, or let alone taking a moment in the shower to relax. Yeah, I’ve totally been there, done that.

The day I walked into my boss’s office to hand in my resignation letter was the most intimidating of my life. Inside I was scared to leave my “steady paycheck” for something I really wanted to pursue, something that I was really hungry for. But on the outside I was confident and shared what I was about to do with a smile.

I was humble and hungry for more. I wanted to be in charge of my own hours, I wanted to get paid for what I loved doing, and I wanted to work from home so I could be there for my family. Is that too much to ask?

By no means am I telling you to quit your job right now.

But here’s what I’ve learned over the past 18 months since leaving my full time job for owning my own business:

• Hungry people set goals. But you can’t just set them and forget them. (Isn’t that a cookbook?!) I needed to write them down, post them in my house, tell my family about them, and actually do the things that help me achieve them. Hello, Hawaiian vacation.
• Hungry people speak positive affirmations. The words you say to yourself must be stronger than the words you are hearing yourself say. Our brains can be filled with negative thoughts that might hold us back, but if we grab on to the positive words and say them out loud, we will move forward.
• Hungry people don’t give up. Will it get tough? Yes. Tough stuff can propel you not hold you back. You get to choose!
• Hungry people are givers too. Giving time, energy, gifts, money, whatever makes your heart happy. If you are a baker like me, you can bake for Soldier’s Angels and send care packages to soldiers.
• Hungry people are joyful and full of gratitude. There’s always something to be grateful for. I found a book and gave it to myself and my family to help us record our three things for the day that we are thankful for. It’s been 5 months, and we are still doing it every night!

Do me a favor, drop me a note to let me know what you are hungry for more of in your life. I’d love to hear from you.