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Tag: entrepreneur

Showing up for yourself

For over two decades, I’ve been helping people set goals. Whether I was working with clients on probation or coaching entrepreneurs building communities, there has always been a common hurdle. This might sting a bit.

When it comes to setting goals and achieving them, we are great at coming up with excuses. I don’t have the money. I don’t have the time. I’m not gifted enough. I don’t have many followers. I didn’t get the degree. It’s already been done.

As difficult as it might be to hear, it isn’t usually that thing, and the excuse you’re making is just that — an excuse. Plenty of artists and business owners learn to create in spite of tremendous hurdles and obstacles. If you need proof, check out A Beautiful Constraint. It’s recommended reading for altMBA participants for good reason.

It’s us. We get in our own way. If we ask enough questions and peel back the layers, eventually the excuses can’t stand. You owe it to yourself to show up for yourself and your dreams. Ten minutes a day can build momentum that spills over into other areas of your life. A daily journaling practice can help you find the courage and confidence to work on a business plan. A daily doodle can lead to a finished painting. Weekly blog posts can become a book.

Make a promise to yourself to show up, even if it is for five minutes. If you need help getting started, Amie McNee has generously put together a list of 31 prompts to inspire you to put pen to paper. 

Let me know how it goes.

Honor the quirk

With all the filters and editing software, it seems we are trying to do away with imperfections. Yet quirks are magnetic. Quirky elements are relatable and endearing — what stops a scroll and captures attention.

This post is an ode to the quirk. A reminder that something is worth doing even if it isn’t exceptional. That art can be created without the goal of perfection. That the greatest entrepreneurial attempts are often imperfect and messy when they begin.

Quirks can be fun and inspiring and a platform for something great.

Just for today, follow the quirks. Embrace them, and look for ways to use quirks in your favor.

Prompt: What quirks have unexpectedly served you? Tweet me @redheadlefthand.

3 reasons to hire a professional coach

A good coach can help you level up, get inspired, and set goals you’ve been putting off for way too long. Yet “coaching” has become a saturated industry with a range of providers, from academically-trained professionals to Instagram influencers charging fees anywhere between $40 to $3,500 per session. How can you determine if a coach can help you and what should you be prepared for when you begin?

I’ve listed three ways in which the right coach can add value to your work and life:

  1. Confidence. A focused coach-client relationship can build confidence over time through task achievement, heightened goal setting behaviors, and improved self awareness. Confidence comes through accomplishment; the simple act of showing up to a coach session can boost esteem and feelings of productivity.
  2. Performance. Targeted questions can encourage even the most experienced professionals to measure and analyze their own performance. This, in turn, can maximize professional development and catalyze personal growth. Just as sports coaches help players succeed, business coaches can help clients “see the field” within specific industries and relevant verticals.
  3. Progress. From business to personal settings, stagnation can occur for a variety of reasons — boredom, lack of inspiration, the absence of motivation, ineffective routine. A coach can motivate clients to set and change patterns so progress can take place. Whether you’re trying to write a book or grow your business, use a coach to help you identify areas of opportunity and make plans to stay on track.

I take on a limited number of coaching clients. Send a message if you’d like to learn more.

Small business owners have heart

Small business owners have a lot of heart. This can make decisions — especially when it comes to business particularly challenging.

Whether you’re thinking about scaling, setting up processes, or building a sustainable community, remember to consider what works for you. Your business is a diamond, and each aspect is a facet: content marketing, hiring, planning, YOU. Nurture yourself just as much as the business you’re building and creating and growing.

Entrepreneurship is a long road, and the destination isn’t always certain.

Feeling exposed is okay. Sit in those moments long enough to see if you can find opportunity.

Feeling overwhelmed is normal. Reach out for help or look for ways to make your life easier.

How can I support you? Reach out.

Starting matters

Starting matters. There’s no barometer, no baseline, no comparison. It’s 1/1, and the scale is tipped. Without the first, there can never be the ninth.

The effect shrinks when you reach 300. 1/725 hits different.

Remember that when you start: The first matters, but it doesn’t matter “the most.”

Take the pressure off and begin.

P.S. You can now find me on Instagram.

crop man getting dollars from wallet

When your product is “FREE,” is it worth it?

Price isn’t simply an amount, it’s a representation. This is how good we are, this is why you should trust us, this is the commitment, this is the value you’ll receive.

Yes, FREE can help solidify a brand and attract customers. Maybe it can make selling easier. But unless you’re using “free” to establish consistent revenue, is it worth it?

When you circumnavigate hassle with a free label, you might sacrifice perception in return.

Free could just be an easy way out.