P21: Stop Fighting for Your Limitations

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The harshest advice I ever received was the one that changed everything for me and my family.

PIVOT POINT

In 1992, the economy was in freefall. It was one of the worst recessions in our country’s history.

My husband and I weren’t just suddenly unemployed. His industry was collapsing, and no matter how fast he found a new job, within weeks, the doors would shut again.

Eleven times that year, he started and lost a job, each gone as quickly as it began.

I was a young mother who postponed my college education to be home with our daughter. And now?

No degree. No income. Thirty days from eviction.

No matter how hard my mentor tried to comfort me, I had a response:

"No one is going to hire me."

"We've exhausted all our options."

"We're almost out of money."

"Worse time to start a business."

And just like that, he cut me off:

THE SHIFT

I was speechless.

At first, his words felt cruel. How could he dismiss my pain like that?

But then, something shifted. His words were the reset button I needed, cutting through my fight-flight-freeze response.

I wanted to fight back. Instead, I took a breath. Then another. Until I could think clearly.

And when I stopped defending my limitations, I finally heard the question that changed everything:

That question opened the door to possibility.

✔️ We had grit and determination.

✔️ We weren’t afraid of hard work.

✔️ I inherited my father’s entrepreneurial and strategic DNA, and my favorite hobby was reading "How to Start Your Own Business" books.

And then there was Sam.

His obsessive attention to detail—his knack for cleaning and organizing—suddenly looked like more than a quirk.

It was simple. It was within our control. And most importantly, it was something we could start immediately.

Within 60 days, we replaced our lost income and built a steady revenue stream through monthly contracts—a business we would eventually sell.

The Biggest Takeaway

The "how" to get from Point A to Point B is usually simple—once the perspective shift happens.

If you fight for your limitations, you get to keep them, but anything is possible if you put them aside.

PIVOT CHALLENGE

Whenever you feel stuck, breathe and quiet the inner critic character in your brain. Then, conduct a Limitation Audit.

• What am I defending that’s keeping me stuck?

• What strengths, experiences, or resources am I overlooking?

• Who can help me fill my clarity gaps?

Remember: Momentum is only one pivot away, but the pivot always starts in your mind and is triggered by the right questions.

Here’s to shedding limitations and making your next best move.

Maria Keckler, Ph.D.
Author of Bridge Builders: How Superb Communicators Get What They Want

P.S. Had a breakthrough this week? Share your Pivot Stories here. 

P.S.S. I’m celebrating the tenth anniversary of my book, Bridge Builders, with a speaking tour. I’m scheduling new dates now. If you want to discuss how I can help you inspire your group, Send me a note.