Jackie Krawczak

Starting a business is relatively easy. It’s paperwork. That might sound harsh, but what I mean is that the real challenge in running a business exists in making the business successful. The experience is filled with ups and downs. The cliches – “entrepreneurs work 80 hours a week so they don’t have to work 40,” “jump and the net will appear,” “you’ve got to fail fast and fail often,” “every overnight success took ten or more years” – are proving themselves to be true in my experience as a business owner.

And I love it.

The challenge, the stress (it’s a different kind of stress than anything I’ve had before), developing the potential and knowing what it took to earn every dollar is all quite rewarding. But I won’t pretend that there aren’t difficult times when I deeply question if what I’m doing is the right thing.

I commented to a friend the other day that I had just had yet another experience where I was having some doubts about my ability to make my business what I desire it to be and was allowing myself to get down about it. But then that same day I received two requests for proposals – one from a new client and one from a repeat client.

It seems that every time I really start to wonder if what I’m doing is what I’m supposed to be doing, the universe gives me a sign that yes, I’m on the right track.

I do believe the universe, (God, your higher power, whatever you personally believe) whispers to us to guide us down a path. The trick is for us to pay attention. The whispers and nudges show up differently in different situations. For me and my business, the nudges come when I am at a low point in my own mind, judging and doubting myself. They show up as requests for proposals and unsolicited testimonials or notes of appreciation. Sometimes they show up as a new training opportunity.

I don’t know how specific the master plan for our individual lives is. It might be specific right down to every detail, or perhaps it is a broader plan to fully utilize our gifts for good and become more aware of ourselves so we can continue to grow. Either way, the nudges and whispers are an important piece of us becoming the valuable and good people we were all born to be.

For me, these whispers and nudges are never giant flashing lights and clearly written directions. They are always more subtle than that and it has taken me a long time to pay attention and notice them. As much as I wish they were more obvious, I’ve had to learn to slow down and pay attention so I don’t miss what is trying to be communicated to me.

These signs don’t remove personal responsibility or effort. They don’t mean the path will be easy. They simply serve as reassurance in moments when self-doubt gets loud and

confidence feels fragile. The work still must be done. The risks still exist. Difficult decisions still must be made. The whispers and nudges subtly remind us that doubt doesn’t mean failure. It means quite the opposite – that growth is happening.

Starting and growing a business has forced me to trust myself in ways I was not able to before. It’s been very good for my confidence and feelings of self-worth. It has given me the opportunity to learn more about myself and pay closer attention to my instincts. Paying attention to these quiet signals doesn’t make everything work perfectly every time, but it does help my confidence in knowing I can navigate whatever comes my way.

Many believe the benefits of owning your own business are independence and financial rewards but there is a gift that comes with entrepreneurship that is often overlooked. That is the gift of awareness and personal growth. Awareness of strengths, limits, fears, and resilience. When I slow down enough to notice the whispers and nudges, whether they present as encouragement, challenge, or unexpected opportunity, I am reminded that progress doesn’t always look like certainty. Sometimes, it simply looks like continuing forward, even when the next step isn’t fully known.

Are you listening to the whispers and nudges in your life? They add value, so pay attention.