How long does it take you to fill in this blank: “I am not ________ enough.”
Or this one: “My business is not __________ enough.”
I’m guessing it took less than a second.
I talk with business owners and business leaders almost every day. We talk about programs, products, brands, plans, teams and objectives. About launches and visions and missions. And you know what I hear?
“We’re not ready. We don’t have enough experience.”
“People won’t see me that way. I don’t have enough education.”
“I can’t start. I don’t have enough money.”
“I can’t talk to people. I’m not extroverted enough.”
“That’s easy for you. Me? I don’t have enough guts.”
“No one will buy from me. I don’t have a big enough name.”
Did you hear yourself anywhere in there?
I’ve got good news for you. There is no great and powerful judge who hands out rulings regarding whether or not we are enough. There is no outside standard, benchmark or measure for enough. There is no rulebook that states exactly when enough is enough. It’s all in our heads.
“Enough” is a dirty word. It’s nasty. It’s brutal. Trust me, the E-Word is waaaay more vulgar than the F-Word.
The E-Word is a dream crusher, a showstopper, a deal breaker, an un-doer. It’s like the boogeyman waiting under the bed. It’s not real. It’s an absolute figment of our imaginations. Yet we continue to allow it to scare the hell out of us.
Here’s the thing about letting “enough” lie under your bed (or in your head or your vocabulary): it will always terrorize you. You will never beat it. If you let it, “enough” will write a tragic ending to every beautiful story you create for yourself.
How did we get to the point where an adjective rules our decisions? Where a single, utterly powerless word determines our fates?
Here’s the official definition of the word, enough: “sufficient to meet or satisfy a desire.” Meaning deep and powerful enough to limit our lives? I think not.
I’m here to today – feisty and determined and enthusiastic about your future and mine – to call bullshit on “enough.”
I’ve had enough of “enough.”
Enough of the excuses.
Every time we consider the possibility of not being enough, we give ourselves a way out. We give ourselves a chance to quit. A reason to hide. A motive for holding back.
Enough of the apologies.
Enough of the limitations.
Enough of the fear.
Enough of the mamby-pamby, candy-ass, big-toe-in-the-water kind of behavior.
Enough of cannot, will not, do not and have not.
It’s just enough.
How ’bout you? Have you had enough? Share in the comments below.
This is a super-important rant! I love it. I’ve posted like comments on Facebook, but it can’t be said too much. I’m writing a blog post today, and I’ll link it to yours. Bravo!
Thanks so much, Judy. Please share your post with me; I’d love to read it!
Yes, exactly!! Thank you for this. I needed to hear it so badly.
When you put those first two up with the blanks I already knew what went in there because it’s what’s in my head all day, every day.
I’ve had enough too. I’m done with that word in the negative.
I AM enough, as a matter of fact, I’m MORE than enough! I’m TOTALLY ADEQUATE!! LOL Just kidding.
I’m actually extraordinary, I’m a PURPLE COW and a LYNCHPIN and yes, I love to read Seth Godin.
It’s time to let the world enjoy the wonderful things I have to offer.
Now, I just have to narrow that down into bite sized pieces because there’s just too much awesome in here for one big bite. : )
Go, Anita!! I LOVE it! You are definitely more than enough. You’re the bomb.
Thank you for this post! It hit close to home because I do say most if not all of those “…not enough” comments in my head. It is time to remove that phrase from my vocabulary!
You’re welcome, Cynthia. I’m glad “enough” is out the door for you. It’s not doing any of us any good!!
Love your not enoughisms! It’s making me notice them everywhere …..I never thought of them as being so in my face but they are! Not enough time to do all that I want to do, it has to be perfect enough before others can see it, I need to make sure I have enough knowledge before I can call myself an expert, there might not be enough people who really grasp my message so I better spell it out lol. But how great to look at these ridiculous lies straight on, burn a hole through them and clear my way into my own future. How about….” enough already!!” Time to take this lack mentality and Shift into a generous one ….. After all Our Universe is benevolent one!! Thank Juju
Thanks, Julie. The enoughisms are everywhere, indeed. Let’s give them a run for their money in 2016!!
Thank you Juju. I too have had enough of listening to my inner voice telling me I’m not quite ready. It’s time to jump in the deep end!
Jump, Jump, Jo!!