My Authentic Path

Staying the Path

I had a week full of doubt.  One of those weeks where you wake up in the middle night thinking "this life I want is not going to happen."  I thought about the security of my old position and all the perks that came with it. My thoughts became cluttered with insecurity. Why should it be me that gets to do this work over all the other coaches out there? How can I find enough clients to sustain a decent income for my family?  Maybe being able to do the work I love is simply too much to ask for in this lifetime?

And then I had two sessions with current clients that gave me so much satisfaction and yes, dare I say it, joy that I thought, I can't give up this dream.  I must keep trudging, walking, running down my own path.  I love this work and I am as engaged as a person can be in what they do.  My core strengths are aligned with my work.  I am doing work that matters.

So what does that mean practically?  I still need more clients.  I still need better marketing and have no marketing budget. I still need to fill my empty workshops. 

It is the same thing I say to my clients.  You must be crystal clear about what you want and then keep making steps in each moment, day, week, month that moves you closer to that end goal. You must use your resources as cleverly as you can; maybe that is asking experts for advice or calling in a favor from a friend or using your network to ask for help. 

You must not deviate from your chosen route!  Through the doubt, through the insecurity, through those long nights.

Put Your Heart In It

I was meeting with an individual yesterday, helping him to set out goals for the new year.  We went through a series of discussions and were able to identify a list of what he wanted to accomplish and a path to get him there.  But what happened in the middle of the discussion was what really mattered, both to him and me. 

This individual started a new profession six months ago.  It is essentially a sales position, with a product he feels passionate about and  is quite comfortable selling with integrity (something that matters to him above all).  However, he's had trouble getting movement on his sales.  He has a huge social network - the guy is so lovable he's invited to parties where sometimes he's not even sure he knows the party giver!  That is the dream of anyone attempting a career in sales or starting a business. What this told me is that he was holding himself back, not his circumstances.  His own fears were keeping him from the success he wants and deserves because he felt it was inappropriate to use this innate quality of likability and compassion, that ekes from his pores by the way, to improve his sales. 

He was holding on to this belief that it was inappropriate to share what you do for fear it would come across as 'selling' instead of giving his friends and business associates a chance to decide for themselves if it was something they were interested in learning more about.  After he understood his own thinking, he agreed he could begin to casually mention what he does (which, by the way, is a product every person needs) and start opening doors for himself at every social and business function he attends.  All the sudden, right there in the meeting, he had a bunch of other ideas of how to attract clients.  He got excited about going forward instead of feeling at a loss.

And then he gave me a gift.  He said, the value of working with a coach is that we address your heart - what you care about, what you're afraid of and what you really want your life to be about.  When you understand all of that, your goals become crystal clear.   There are many experts in how to grow your business, marketing gurus, strategists, etc. that are essential if you are serious about making your business a success.  But a coach can help you with your heart. 

I look forward to seeing his business explode this year!

New Years Resolutions - How bad do you want it?

January is the month we naturally see as the beginning of a new chapter.  Most of us have areas in our lives in which there could be improvement. The things we want to do better, do more of or do less of as the case may be.  The key to change is what I call the how bad do you want it syndrome.  If you are willing to admit what you truly want and visualize it, you can make it happen.  It is simple really - it is a matter of wanting it bad enough that you are willing to break a couple of sweats, push a little harder, expand your thoughts to include your own wild success.

  There are three steps to consider as you are planning your goals for 2008.

• What isn't working?  What do you not want?  Write it down.  Be specific.
• Look at the first list and turn the negatives into positives.  Define as specifically as you can exactly what you want.  As you are making your list, visualize what your life looks like when you accomplish the items on the list.  Visualize doing them.
• Take the second list and map out a time line with specific target dates specified.  List possible resources to help you reach your goals.  Figure out how to keep yourself accountable.  List possible challenges and then figure out how to conquer them if they do arise.

Lastly, dream big.  Big, specific dreams.  Don't be afraid of your own success! 

My First Blog - Welcome me to the Modern Age!

My husband, a self professed techie type has been encouraging me (by that I really mean bugging me) to begin a blog.  He says it is the thing to do, especially if you own a small business.  Needless to say, I've resisted.  Mostly because I'm busy and I thought who has time to read blogs let alone write one?  I have two small children; I'm writing a novel; I'm growing my coaching business. I'm too busy for this blogging thing.  Plus, would anyone really want to read something about me?  Could I possibly think of anything to write that would be interesting?  It all seems doubtful. However, last year I began three new things that had been dreams for a long time (write a novel, get in shape and start a coaching business) so why not continue that theme in 2008?  If you don't do things that seem scary or strange how do you grow?  Not a new concept of course, but one I know I struggle with and so do many of my clients.  To be open to the new, to embrace aspects of life that are foreign, to explore unknown territories within yourself - that is the stuff that makes you feel alive and that makes your life the exciting beautiful adventure it should be.  I invite those concepts to the party with each new client so I better bring them to my own!  So, here I am - throwing myself out to the blog world.   If you find your way to me somehow, I'm glad to see you or not see you or however this blogging thing works.  "Talk" with you soon!