Entrepreneur Advice: Keep Your Home Fire Burning for Frosty Mornings. You never know what’s coming next – positive or negative – but if you tend your hearth well you will be warm and prepared in life and in entrepreneurship.
I heat my home with wood and sun. Propane is the backup but my preference is to limit how much of it we use. Thus, our warmth is up to me and my intimate relationship with the wood stove and stacks of firewood. There’s an art to heating with wood. The most challenging part is filling the stove at night in such a manner that by morning the coals are still hot with embers ready to catch a few pieces of kindling.
Entrepreneur Advice – Keep your home fires burning
for frosty mornings.
Entrepreneur Advice
The house itself is like a living breathing organism in a constant balancing act between the cold outdoors and the heat being held in by high insulation. When the sun shines the heat is absorbed into the solar collector mass of the house. At night it is slowly released, theoretically keeping the house warm through the darkest hours.
In reality, once the sun goes down the house will eventually settle at a temperature that is much warmer than outdoors, but not comfortable for living. This is the time of the wood stove.
There is an art to entrepreneurship. Though one would think it is in actions and skills that success is formed, the reality is that the heat from your home fire and the glow from your hearth, is the bigger determinant of your business outcome.
Entrepreneur Advice – Keep your home fire burning.
I go out into the world to do my work, as do you. Daily we are impacted by communication, media, emotions, relationships. Just like the house that must each day find an equilibrium as nature’s cold draws heat and the home fire keeps it warm, cozy, inviting. We stoke our own home fire to keep us centered, grounded, aware and calm. You step up to claim your greatness and create something of value in world and simultaneously feel your soul warm and nourished around your internal hearth.
I read entrepreneur advice every day:
- Focus on this.
- Write about that.
- Clarify your message.
- Increase your conversions and your conversations.
Yet the more I read the more I realize that there is not more learning to be done. Yes there is always something new to grasp and skills to hone. But when you dig deep into the daily actions of the most successful entrepreneurs you will find something entirely different than the advice you get from most.
I have come to believe that keeping your home fire burning is the key. James Altucher’s Daily Practice is the essence of keeping a warm, calm, nurturing internal hearth. As I prepare for the coming year, it is this daily practice outline that I plan to incorporate more fully into my waking hours.
Entrepreneur Advice for winning the inner game of success. Keep your home fire burning with daily practice and….Tweet Now click
Each day I split wood into kindling. I rearrange the stacks and bring more wood inside. In the evenings I prepare so that by bedtime, the stove has a strong burn and is ready to fill and tamp down for the night – keeping the home fire burning to fight off the extreme cold outside.
Every day I go to work in my entrepreneur business. I do my zero-level daily activities and organize my other appointments. I meet with clients, do my marketing, close sales and inspire partners. When I imagine the home fire in this scenario, I see a strong center of light within me serving as a beacon and reminder of what is real and what is important.
For years I’ve talked about success being an inside job. One more phone call, one more meeting, one more tweet is going to do far less for my success and yours than will one more meditation session, one more walk, one more hour of uninterrupted thinking.
Entrepreneur Advice – Keep your home fire burning
Entrepreneur Advice
I’m curious what you do to keep your home fire burning while you are out in the world, slaying proverbial dragons?
How do you assure a warm hearth glows consistently within?
I look forward to read your story in the comments below!
Sharing on social media too is a blessing!
Coaching both privately and in groups, Deborah is also a speaker, author, event leader and consultant. Creator of the Foundation and Framework Intensive, Question Master and Leader of the Entrepreneur Business Success Club, Deborah has been called an “Architect of Magical Business and Soul Structure”by her clients because she has a powerful ability to perform alchemy, changing passions and dreams into money and time by design.
Choose a Complimentary Vision Exploration for Your Business
Stay focused and in the Loop.
Subscribe to Blog Updates
- How to Grow Business with Local Paid Advertising – Online - January 2, 2018
- Wow! Just Wow. - September 15, 2017
- Dear America - November 10, 2016
Hello, Deborah,
What a lovely article, and I couldn’t agree more! 🙂 What a great analogy.
My sister heats her home with a wood stove, and I’m amazed at how much wood they cut, stack, and consume. Wow. It’s a dry heat, and thing is, they don’t have an alternate source like you (actually you mentioned two).
Love this statement: “But when you dig deep into the daily actions of the most successful entrepreneurs you will find something entirely different than the advice you get from most.
I have come to believe that keeping your home fire burning is the key.” I can completely resonate with this, and it makes me happy to know I’ve been focused on the right priorities.
In the last year, I’ve been able to really concentrate on narrowing my core focus down and then implementing actionable steps in order to achieve goals in that area. What a blessing to learn, grow, learn, grow and keep on learning. 🙂
Starting my day with meditation and prayer ensures that I have the ‘gratitude attitude’ to be the best that I can be to accomplish what’s needed for the day. Mindset is key.
Loved your article, Deborah, and have already shared it with friends.
Talk soon,
– Carol
Carol Amato recently posted…5 Tips To Keep The Content Flowing
I am so thrilled that you meditate Carol!
Have you ever heard the phrase – ” You can’t control the wind but you can adjust your sails” ?
Meditation is the practice of learning how to do that, not just while sitting but while living. Entrepreneurship is a challenging (and rewarding :-)) path. The winds shift daily, as do our emotions. Knowing how to return to your internal hearth – to not reel from the buffeting but to trim the sails – is one of the most crucial skills an entrepreneur can have.
Thank you for your heartfelt comment and taking the time to share.
As for heating only with wood…that is quite a respectable challenge. In my house it would require waking up in the middle of the night to load and stoke, on the coldest nights. I’m guessing your sister has a large stove to hold much more wood than ours!
Warmly,
Deborah
Deborah Tutnauer recently posted…Entrepreneur Business Coaching – Women and Money
Hi Deborah,
I can’t even imagine heating your home only by a fireplace. My Mom had one and my brother has one and neither of them would put out much heat. But, I prefer it cold at night when I sleep, just don’t want to be cold all during the day. Of course I live in Houston so that’s usually never an issue! LOL!!!
Anyway, I also like your statement: “But when you dig deep into the daily actions of the most successful entrepreneurs you will find something entirely different than the advice you get from most”. I just spoke with a prospect yesterday and that’s something he’s run into as well. I had the same issue myself during my earlier years online so I know this to definitely be true.
I not only work on my business but I also continue to work on myself. There is always room for improvement and I start my mornings off in a certain way. I have a list I go down that I’m thankful for and I pretty much cover everything. I also read a vision statement out loud that I have as well as some daily devotionals as well. I don’t meditate in the sense of the word but I know sitting quietly is a form of mediation which I do daily as well. It’s all helped me to move in the right direction and I finally feel I’m much further along now than ever before.
I do believe this is the key to getting to where we need to be. I wish there was a manual on this but for now this will have to do.
Thanks for sharing this with us and I’ll be sure to do the same. Enjoy your week.
~Adrienne
Adrienne recently posted…How To Benefit From Your Blog Community
“I wish there was a manual for this”
Interesting Adrienne. I love what you’ve put together for your own centering ritual and for working on yourself as you work on your business. Since my coaching leans heavily towards “Inner Game” I am always teaching my clients ways to do what you have already figured out.
When you mentioned a “manual” my first thought was “There is one” and my second thought was “There are many – but are their any that pull it all together in the way you alluded to?”
Maybe we should write one! (Hint – Hint). A seed has been planted!
Warmly,
Deborah
Deborah Tutnauer recently posted…How You Do Something is How You Do Everything
Absolutely love this article Deborah! My personal strategy involves a simple 3 step very-first-thing-in-the-morning practice. Before getting out of bed, I “check-in” with ME. I ask myself “what do I really need today?” – sometimes it’s rest, sometimes it’s exercise, sometimes it’s to connect with others and sometimes it’s solitude – whatever it is, I make sure I get it that day. Then I drink a big glass of water, open the door and take a huge gulp of fresh and frigid air! I enjoy one good, strong cup of coffee. All of this BEFORE I even think about looking at an electronic device. This daily practice grounds me and enables me to move into my day knowing that I tended to my own home fire first.
Be well,
Dina
Dina Ferrante recently posted…I Survived an Unsubscribe
Thank you for your comment Dina!
You shared this daily ritual with me a few weeks ago and I have consistently followed parts of it! For me, just taking that deep breathe outside and drinking TWO glasses of water BEFORE coffee has been noticeably shifting.
Isn’t it amazing how simple things can reap huge rewards?
Thanks for the suggestions Dina and sharing what works so well for you.
Warmly,
Deborah
Deborah Tutnauer recently posted…How You Do Something is How You Do Everything
Hi Deborah,
Thank you for the inspiration! I have had a full week of reflection and thinking about this subject. My wife and her family just put her amazing grandmother of 91 years to rest on Tuesday in Connecticut.
I have had the privilege of knowing her for over 22 years and she was the kindest person one would ever meet. No matter the trial or circumstance, she always had a smile and said “enjoy your life, you only get to live it once!”
My fire is found in the warmth of my family. My wife is just like her grandmother and she is simply amazing. I wouldn’t be able to do half of the things I’ve done if were not for her!!!! Everything I do is for her and our future. WE have big dreams and together we plan to live them!
That’s what keeps me going day-after-day and when I think of home she is what I think of. She keeps me centered and balanced and reminds me of what is important.
I credit her with any success I’ve had as she is the one who helps make it all possible and encourages me day-after-day.
Thank you for reminding me again Deborah of what’s important in life and in business to me.
I so appreciate the personal touch you bring to your blog!
~ Don Purdum
Don Purdum recently posted…One Great Reason You Are Not Getting Sales from Your Website!
I am so sorry to hear of your loss Don, and appreciate the beauty of the experience you share saying goodbye to Grandma.
That your home fire is fueled by your family seems exactly what I would have expected you to say, even though family has not been a topic we’ve discussed in particular yet. It is so wonderful to hear your commitment and love for your wife jump off the page. I think it’s easy in entrepreneurship, to get so wrapped up that we forget for a time where the center of our world really is. Clearly you have not and kudos to you for keeping it that way!
I’m looking forward to some of the plans we’ve discussed Don, rolling into 2015 and onward.
I appreciate your solid values and deep caring.
Warmly,
Deborah
Deborah Tutnauer recently posted…How You Do Something is How You Do Everything
Hi Deborah,
I’m not sure what I have been doing so far, not finding your blog 🙂 but that’s done now, thanks to your recent visit on mine. I love your site, and even though at can’t right now, later on I will fill out your form too.
I think that keeping the fire burning is vital, and your analogy works great. If you keep the fire burning, the house will stay warm, at the constant temperature, if you let that fire go off, the house will cool down considerably, and even get very cold.
For, example, a couple weeks ago, I went on a business trip and set my thermostat to about 60 degrees, because I didn’t need my apartment to be any warmer than that,while gone. When I got back home, the place was freezing. Because the constant temperature was so low.
One thing that I keep reminding my clients is that it’s better to work even just a little bit every single day on what they need to work on, then much for one week, and nothing for two. Consistency is not only key, but an absolutely MUST for improvement and to seeing real change at the end of the tunnel.
Thank you for this great analogy and glad we could finally connect. Now that I have only one blog to take care of it will be much easier on to connect with others more.
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted…A Look Back At 2014 And Looking Forward To 2015
I appreciate you coming over with a lovely comment Sylviane!
I just spent some more time on your new wonderful blog and can see already we have much in common! As for a 60 degree house – yes – it feels cold doesn’t it, even though 60 degrees outside is fairly mild.
We live in a very cold climate and for years I’ve been playing the question of which uses more energy, warming up the house or keeping it warm? I’m sure an engineer could create a mathematical equation to determine the true answer. For me, I find a steady temperature on the low side of comfort is best. Much as you discussed about how to move forward in business or even life – a little effort daily and consistently is more beneficial and actually easier than bursts of effort occasionally!
Happy Holidays to you Sylviane!
Warmly,
Deborah
Deborah Tutnauer recently posted…Entrepreneur Business Coaching – It is in the Doing That Your Being Becomes
Hey again Deborah,
My experience is that my energy bills are higher in the summer, even though, I do not use a lot of AC at all, and even though I’m in North Carolina, because I’m very cold nature and take the heat much better than the average person. For example am totally comfortable if my house is at 80 degrees in the summer.
I do use more heat in the winter, even though I put my thermostat very low at night as I sleep much better in cool temperature. In the end my winter bills are still lower.
True 60 degree is fine outside, but in a house is totally freezing 🙂 Interesting, isn’t it?
I’m so glad I’m meeting more and more people who have so much in common with me. I think that my affirmation “I am attracting only the right people into my life” is working 🙂
I’ve added this affirmation in my daily routine affirmations back few months ago.
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted…A Look Back At 2014 And Looking Forward To 2015