It’s been so fun going down memory lane and sharing stories from a few years ago.
I had forgotten this one, which in it’s own way is a lesson.
Read on and see if you get what I mean…
I did a thing.
It pushed me way outside my comfort zone and now that it’s behind me I’m feeling victorious.
I swing danced with my wife and two students in a “Dancing with the Professors” show.
That, all on its own, would be enough to make me uncomfortable and I still can’t believe I said yes.
To make this an even bigger challenge my then nearly three-year-old joined us on stage.
(Not one for choreography, we had no idea what he would do. He did great!)
You may be wondering what caused me, to the disbelief of my wife, to agree to participate.
It was just a couple of weeks before the show and I knew finding time for rehearsing would not be easy.
I knew I didn’t want to look foolish.
I knew this was way outside my comfort zone.
I heard myself saying yes and saw my wife’s eyes widen as she heard my response.
It was unexpected.
But, in that second, I realized I’m always asking my clients to push themselves outside of their comfort zone – to stretch themselves – to dream bigger.
That never gets easy, but it does become less daunting if you make it a habit.
Each time you say yes, you do so while thinking back to all the other times you said yes and made something magical happen that you didn’t think was possible.
As my wife asked me to do this seemingly impossible thing, in my head I heard a phrase I often tell my clients:
“Don't be attached to the outcome, create possibilities.”
I was creating possibilities for me and my wife to brush off the routine from our first dance as a married couple five years earlier and the opportunity to spend time together rehearsing.
I was creating possibilities for our family to have fun together and adding to the collection of videos I would love to share at my son’s wedding decades from now.
I wasn’t saying yes with a specific outcome in mind, but I know good things come from saying yes.
Your Challenge For This Week
Practice saying yes to things that push you outside your comfort zone.
You can start small…
Raise your hand and speak up if you often stay quiet in meetings.
Send an email to an influencer in your field – thank them for something specific and then ask their advice.
Sign up for a course or to work with a coach knowing you’re going to be asked to do things you don’t feel ready to do.
You know those moments when you feel the angst rising in your chest and wonder what you’re getting yourself into? Resist saying no right away.
Say yes more often than not.
Try this and let me know how it goes!
Business Growth Strategist & Business Coach
As a relationship-based business growth strategist, I work directly with a limited number of self-employed professionals, aka solopreneurs.
WHO YOU ARE:
You want to have a greater impact and increased income. The problem is that there are so many options for how to build your business that you can feel stuck, overwhelmed, and like you’re running out of time.
The reason options are overwhelming is that you’re looking at them as a series of disconnected steps, when to make the most of your time, you need a strategy that connects only the most important and highest impact ones.
You know that if you try to do everything, you’ll accomplish nothing. This means, to achieve your goal, you have to invest in a strategy to put time on your side.
What’s Included:
As a relationship-based business growth strategist, I will work with you to design a year-long plan that consists of three 12-week sprints, each followed by 4 weeks of reflection/assessment, rejuvenation/vacation, and strategic planning. This will allow you to sequence your goals, create momentum, and leverage your limited time.
We can build your plan through a half-day strategy session, a coaching engagement, or a mastermind program.
These are not right for everyone; they’re personalized offerings and are priced accordingly.
What might you work on?
In my coaching work with entrepreneurs and solopreneurs, we focus on the areas where you’d like to grow, which may include:
- Creating a strong sales conversation framework
- Building your referral network
- Lead generation through a relationships
- Growing your visibility in your industry
- Increasing your ability to attract the right kind of clients
- Identifying and launching a minimally viable offer
- Breaking through whatever bottleneck is holding you back from getting the results you want and deserve
- Becoming a published author and marketing your book successfully
- Improving your virtual presentation skills
Learn more about the different ways we can work together – deep dive 3-hour session, private 1:1 coaching, and masterminds. I’m excited to support you in reaching or exceeding your goals.
Stay Connected:
- Connect with me on LinkedIn to see the content I share.
- New to my website? Start here
- Listen to my On the Schmooze podcast – weekly since July 2016.
