Impact. Abundance. Fulfilment.
These are just some of the pleasures and promises of the entrepreneurial world.
And working for yourself does have the potential to deliver those luscious sounding outcomes and more.
But what if they’re not happening for you, regardless of the time, effort and enthusiasm you’re investing in your venture?
Is there a logical reason why? Are there definitive steps to take to change things?
The answer is yes. And no.
But first, how did you get here?
Perhaps you did once experience and enjoy those promises, but something has changed and you’re not sure what it is. You just know that the spark has long left the building and you’re fantasising about running after it…
Or perhaps you do get divine glimpses of what’s possible in your business, but they are fleeting at best and you haven’t yet managed to fan the embers of potential…
In a third scenario, you accepted that your venture needed to stay small and more like a hobby until space in your busy life opened up and gave you more of the time that you need to tend to your business so that it could blossom…and now that time is here, you’re just not sure what to do to make it so…
Regardless of the path you’ve taken, you’ve arrived at the same place. And it’s time to breathe deeply and welcome change.
I recognise the place you’re in because I’ve been there myself and I’ve talked with, connected with and worked with many, many women who also found themselves in this same place.
A destination that is on the map of life just as surely as your home address.
It’s called The Shift
And it was beautifully described and defined by Dr Wayne Dyer in his book and movie of the same name. (I’ve written about this before as it’s something I have experienced for myself and am so glad I have!).
You have reached Shift Central when you begin to listen more keenly to that calling inside, that small insistent pull (what Wayne calls your “future pull”) that only you can hear and feel and choose to respond to. You begin to release yourself from concerns about shoulds and musts and others opinions and the competition – these take a backseat to the compelling need to be and feel fulfilled and living your purpose.
The shift is characterised by a deep knowing and sense that “I can no longer just go through the motions doing what I know how to do”.
There needs to be more.
And wow, this is SO relevant to your business!
Often, you’re good at what you do. Really good, You have expertise and then some. You held great positions in your corporate life before you left, (often to have your children). You decided that you didn’t want to go back to the grind and so you launched your own business.
You were in PR. So you began to freelance.
You were in Marketing. So you opened a consultancy.
Over the years your skill base has sharpened and improved as you’ve worked with many clients.
Your business has grown. But you are
So. Not. Happy.
And aching to do
Something. Very. Different.
The truth is that you have changed and so your business, which is a reflection of who you are, needs to change as well.
I’ve seen Accountants become Reiki Practitioners, TAFE Teachers become Mid Life Mentors, Journalists explore health coaching and even Forensic Scientists become Mindset Gurus!
When the Shift hits the fan anything is possible if you are willing to gather your courage, step forward and realign your business with your refreshed, core values.
You need to get realigned
Often the reason behind the apparent lack of real results in your business is because you are out of alignment because of the Shift.
You keep trying to bend yourself into a shape that just doesn’t fit anymore. And one thing I know for sure is that when you try and market and sell products and services that you really don’t passionately believe in or are excited and delighted to share, your potential clients sense that misalignment too and don’t step forward.
Or the ones that do are out of alignment with you (because you are projecting a self that is not authentically you) and become HORROR clients to work with!
Even if your business didn’t start as an extension of your previous job, if you’ve been in business a while and have lost your passion for what you do, or you’ve started a business that just isn’t working, it is often because of the same reason.
The shift.
Not being aware of this fact can lead to values and services mismatch and a feeling of floating not-sureness. Flatness. Overwhelm. Self-doubt. Fear. Resignation.
The underlying symptoms that then often play out include not being able to get clear on your marketing messages, not knowing who your ideal clients are, reluctance to share your own story and journey and WHY and therefore coming across as vanilla in a crowded market.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
But there is lots of good news too!
Once you become aware of the misalignment between who you are and what you are trying to do, you can make conscious changes.
You can design your business core right around what makes your soul sing. You can create programs and products and services that are a perfect match for your slice of the market. And the clients in that slice can find you because you stand tall and share your story, stance and style through wholehearted marketing.
You can begin to believe in yourself, what you have to offer, the impact and difference you can make.
And as your confidence and certainty grows, so does your capacity for inspired action. You start to do the things that really increase your visibility, attract clients and help your business to grow.
And you begin to lean into the blend of contribution, fulfilment and financial reward that is at the heart of a sustainable next chapter business.
You’ve come full circle.
So, how do you get to this place?
If you’re reading this, you’re already on your way. Because you are feeling the shift and you are looking for answers.
Realignment with your values is one key part of this shift. This combines with mastering proven, authentic marketing strategy and cultivating a healthy, supportive mindset.
Those are some of the most important keys to building and growing a business that serves you just as much as it serves your clients.
