What Works: Are you putting your oxygen mask on first?
This article was inspired by an impromptu coaching session I gave Saturday night. Normally, I don’t coach after 5 pm on a weekend. But this very special friend needed my help. She was exhausted, losing her sense of well-being, and looking for a workshop to attend. After I rattled off a few of my favorites, we got to the meat of the problem. Everyone came first but her.
Entrepreneurs who do this in business often complain about living worse than they did in college. They pay themselves last. So, they never see the financial benefits of going solo. One of two things happen to these good people. They a) continue to rob Peter to pay Paul and run their business on a shoestring, hog-tying any chance they have for growth or worse, they b) decide it’s best to go another direction, take on a side job or shelf the business in favor of a pursuit they deem more stable.
If you are an entrepreneur reading this, option “b” just made you cringe. If you are like a lot of small business owners, option “a” sounded familiar. For entrepreneurs who identify, I recommend reading "Profit First" by my mentor, Mike Michalowicz.
No matter what the situation you are in, the airlines are right. You HAVE to put your oxygen mask on first before helping others. In a flight scenario, a sudden loss of cabin pressure would limit your ability to breathe and you would pass out before you could help the small child next to you. With proper oxygen, you would have the resources you need to help the whole plane if needed.
Now, apply this to life. You must take care of yourself before you help others. Giving from a place of abundance, you thwart any resentment that might brew from helping others. Time, talent, and treasure are all valuable assets. But if you aren’t taking care of yourself, your home front, or even your well-being by living a WHOLE life (not just a work life) you are increasing your chances of running out of air to breathe.
What does this look like? It looks like stress, headaches, weight gain or loss, anxiety and a slew of other negative consequences. If you keep helping from a place of lack, it can turn into illness, missed commitments, late bills, and real consequences.
Have you ever suffered from not putting your oxygen mask on first? What do you do to engage in self-care to assure you are always giving from a place of abundance? The floor is yours, Carson City.
ABOUT DIANE HANSEN
Diane Hansen is the Chief Inspiration Officer of What Works Coaching, a coaching firm that has helped people worldwide with their businesses, careers, mindsets, and profit margins. She brings to Carson City more than 17 years of experience with a wide array of clients, ranging from top corporations, motivated entrepreneurs and individuals hungry for a fresh start. Her column appears every Monday, and sometimes Tuesday, on Carson Now.