It’s so hard to dare to go after a big goal or a big dream, and it takes a ton of courage. If you don’t have a good support structure in places, it gets even harder. But that’s not a reason to quit! If you don’t have a good support system in place, it’s your job to find that support and create a structure that will empower you to achieve your success.

In 2010, I started working on Living Well Spending Less® as a hobby. As I dove deeper, I realized there were possibilities that I had never even considered, and that it’s possible to make money through blogging. I decided that I was going to do that too, and told my husband that I would make enough money blogging that he could quit his job. Would it surprise you if I told you that his reaction was that this was the stupidest thing I’ve ever said?

He didn’t believe that I could make money off of a blog. As you probably know, I followed through on my plan, turned blogging into a full-time living, and enabled him to quit his job to stay home with our kids. Today, I want to focus on the couple of years between the time I set that goal and the time I achieved it.

In hindsight, two and a half years doesn’t sound like a long time to grow an online business. When you’re in the middle of it, though, it feels like an eternity, especially if you don’t feel supported in your goals. There were lots of times that I felt discouraged and wanted to throw in the towel. But I didn’t, and here we are today!

If you feel unsupported or alone in your journey, here are some clear action steps you can take to find more support in going after your big goals and dreams.

1. Get crystal clear on exactly what it is that you want to achieve.
2. Figure out what kind of support you actually need, and ask for it.
3. Expand your circle.
4. Stay encouraged!

Highlights

[02:03] – Welcome to the podcast! Today’s episode is all about something I get asked about constantly: how do you find the courage to go after your dreams when it feels like the people around you don’t really support you?
[05:00] – Ruth shares a story of starting her own blog in 2010, including her husband’s discouraging reaction.
[08:23] – We hear about the years between the time Ruth set her goal and the time she achieved it.
[10:45] – In hindsight, Ruth had more support than she felt like she had.
[13:41] – Support in your life for your dreams might not always look the way that you think it’s going to.
[14:28] – There are some clear action steps that you can follow when you’re trying to find more support in going after your dreams.
[20:07] – Ruth talks about her experience in getting support from her husband, and the ways in which his disinterest in blogging is good for her.
[21:21] – The third step is to expand your circle, Ruth explains.
[24:20] – Ruth shares the fourth and final step in her process to get the support you need to achieve your goals.
[27:35] – We hear about the importance of focusing on what you’ve already accomplished and celebrating your wins.
[29:55] – In the end, Ruth points out, courage is a daily decision.