No one ever told me that being an entrepreneur would be easy. But…they also didn’t tell me how freakin’ hard and lonely it could be, either. You win some, you lose some I guess. AND, I never thought I could relate entrepreneurship to a Disney character, but…Disney seems to always make magic happen.
I was watching Frozen (for the 1,496, 577th time) the other day with my little cherub and I kept thinking, hmmmmm, that Elsa she’s got it right. She’s on to something. She is powerful. She’s smart. Strong. Protective. She sang an entire song about letting go, for goodness sake.
Bear with me as I wheel around to my point…here are some lyrics from her super famous Let It Go song (and yes, I realize a person is behind the voice of Elsa, don’t be so picky…work with me here).
The snow glows white on the mountain tonight
Not a footprint to be seen
A kingdom of isolation,
And it looks like I’m the queen.
The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside
Couldn’t keep it in, heaven knows I tried!
Don’t let them in, don’t let them see
Be the good girl you always have to be
Conceal, don’t feel, don’t let them know
Well, now they know!
Let it go, let it go
Can’t hold it back anymore
Let it go, let it go
Turn away and slam the door!
I don’t care
What they’re going to say
Let the storm rage on,
The cold never bothered me anyway!
I’m with her until the cold part. I dislike the cold a lot.
Anywho, let’s break it down. “A Kingdom of isolation, and it looks like I’m the Queen“. Okay. yes. Entrepreneurship is very similar to having a kingdom and it can be an extremely lonely kingdom. And, being the Queen, aka the Founder, can be pretty isolating, no matter how many super cool women surround you. Go Elsa. I don’t have a tiara though, mental note: work on getting a Hot Mama tiara.
Moving on: Wind howling, swirling inside, can’t keep it in? You got that right, sister! Entrepreneurs are inundated with thoughts, ideas, plans, strategies all day and all night long. And the crazy part? It’s all in our own brains. We create the madness. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve woken up at 3am with my brain zinging and howling at me to release my idea(s) to the world (or at least into the notebook on my bed-side table). It’s exhausting. But…incredible things happen by releasing them, so good job Elsa…lead on.
Next verse: Conceal, don’t feel (you’re losing me here a bit, Elsa). Don’t let them know. Okay. We’re back. You and me, girlfriend, we’re like ducks on a pond. Hoping to look calm and serene to the people watching (both believers and naysayers) but paddling and treading water like mad underneath. Working, pushing, driving the magic we believe in and know we possess with effort and force we hope looks calm and serene…magical. Okay, Ice Queen, still with you.
Let it go. Let it go. Can’t hold it back anymore. Oh Elsa! You dream-maker! It’s true! In order for us to grow we need to let it go. Let. It. Go. Everything we have inside of us, all the dreams and the ambitions, the goals and vision…THE FEAR…let it go. Release it to the world. Show them. Show them what you’re capable of! Oh yes! Okay! Go Elsa! Go Entrepreneurs.
It’s time to stop being afraid of who we are and what we want to do. It’s time to stop hiding in the darkness of self doubt, worry and confusion and just…let it go. Try. It could be beautiful. It could be magic. I have the ability to create magice…I AM creating magic. A kingdom of joy and wonder, of laughter and cheering. Of silliness and beauty. Oh yes, Elsa! We can do this!
You and me,
Or you could end up locked in a dungeon…but, let’s not go there.