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If You Give An Entrepreneur A Cookie

In the children’s book “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie,” the cookie kicks off a long chain of other things the mouse needs, just because he had a cookie. One reviewer calls it a “circular tale.” Wikipedia says it illustrates a “slippery slope.”

I write to entrepreneurs, because it’s a word that applies to a lot of us:

entrepreneur—noun–a person who organizes and manages any enterprise, especially a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk.

By that definition, if you lead your family in a big decision about real estate, you’re an entrepreneur. Ditto if you call the shots for a major kitchen remodel you’ll live with for the next twenty years. Running a company? Of course. You’re also an entrepreneur, in my opinion, if you make a living writing, counseling or performing; guide your child through the college admissions process, with or without bribing an admissions officer; manage a household to live on less than you earn; or lead a sales team or business unit within a larger corporation.

Initiative, risk, and cookies. No matter what your line of work, the need to take initiative and accept risk pushes you out of your comfort zone and into a chain of stressful events. You might soothe yourself with a cookie, or cake, or Coca-Cola, or other available substances. Or you don’t soothe yourself, and lay awake at night, unable to sleep. It’s a rotten way to live. Either way, you get accustomed to more and more stress and may not notice you are on a slippery slope toward burnout, depression, and health problems.

I have done all of the above, but sail on smoother seas at the moment.

Calm lake
Smooth sea

Yet every year at this season I recall that last glorious, beautiful fall when we knew my father was dying, and celebrated every precious drop of family time together. His death kicked me into a long string of terrible, horrible, very bad days, to quote another famous children’s book. No…wait…years! Very bad years!

A Father's Hands
A Father’s Hands

Last year I made a list “How Three Horrible Years Helped Me Be Happier:”

🔹I talk less about negative stuff.

🔹I turned to art, music, nature to nurture and feed my spirit.

🔹I spend time with people who are kind.

🔹I take care of my body.

🔹I appreciate simple things.

🔹With fewer possessions, I feel lighter and more free.

My career seems to be moving in a circular tale too, as recent jobs turn me back to where I began: as a healthcare professional teaching and guiding others toward better health. Still reading books! Still making videos! But body and mind are connected and I want to make the most of my holistic health, and help others do the same. To me holistic refers not to mystical treatments or practices outside of scientific evidence, but to a lifestyle that supports our full potential in mind, body, soul, and emotional connection to others.

Jumping in a puddle
Energy for life

So be on the watch for more…blogs, video book readings, and ideas for how to de-stress your body and prevent burnout.

© Deborah Rankin, R.D., 2019

8 thoughts on “If You Give An Entrepreneur A Cookie”

  1. Happy to
    Have your musings in my inbox again! I needed this reminder- I’m an all out project person, expending big bursts of energy in spurts for days, weeks, or months, forgetting the balance that should accompany them to take care of body and soul while accomplishing them.

    1. Deborah Rankin, RD

      Hi Linda, good point, many of us do that, and it does help us succeed. I know you are successful! I’m finding ways to “keep my tank filled” along the way, and also have been amazed by the impact of small automatic habits I don’t even have to think about. But that’s what I’ll be talking about in my webinars this week! I hope you can join one.

  2. A very unique way to remind us to take care of ourselves and hit the “reset” button occasionally to rid our lives of unnecessary/unimportant things. I hope your future is filled with health, nature and kind people! (Loved seeing his hands ❤️)

    1. Deborah Rankin, RD

      Beth, “reset” is just the right wor. Changes I did not want ended up being positive long term because they forced me to reset, and rid my life of clutter. Thank you for the good wishes!

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