We were having coffee one morning after a meeting at the Chamber. She and I met there almost a year ago, and hit it off immediately.
She’d been talking about hiring me ever since.
When we first met, her business was really taking off. And although she felt good about it, she was also running into challenges that every business owner faces sooner or later.
Maintaining momentum.
Keeping up with deliverables.
Managing cash flow.
Crafting packages.
Implementing systems.
Building a team.
Having a life.
So as we caught up over coffee, many months later, I was eager to hear how things were going now. And it sounded pretty good!
She still had plenty of clients. She was making decent money. And she had some promising opportunities on the horizon.
But it didn’t take long for the rest of the story to show up.
Cash flow was horribly inconsistent, and she was having trouble getting paid. With almost no systems in place, she was constantly putting out fires. She felt like she worked 24/7, and had no time to herself.
She was exhausted – and felt like an idiot.
“I have nothing to complain about. Life is good! Really! I’m just tired…”
I totally got that – having been there myself many times over the years. And I was absolutely sure that with coaching she could get back to center and back in charge of her business.
But she kept putting it off.
I’m thinking I’d like to start in the summer, when things slow down a little.
Actually, I think I’ll have time right after Thanksgiving.
Maybe I can save the money up and start in the spring.
And I got that too.
Waiting is so much easier, isn’t it?
As long as we’re waiting, we don’t have to find out what we can really have, how much we can really do…
Or who we can really Become.
So we do a lot of it.
Waiting for the weather to get warmer.
Waiting for the kids to get grown.
Waiting for the economy to get better.
Waiting for the money to come in.
Waiting for inspiration to strike.
Waiting to get our act together.
Waiting for our lives.
(Are you waiting too much?)
I’ve seen this for years in my counseling practice. Women waiting to go back to school. Men waiting to express how they really feel.
Everyone waiting for the fear to go away.
Among business owners, that fear can be crippling – especially if they are healers at heart.
They’re afraid to say no to non-ideal clients, so their practices fill with people who are exhausting to work with.
They’re afraid to set limits on their time, so they work until they get sick themselves.
They’re afraid to ask for the money they deserve, so they have crazy long days and little to show for it.
I see this so much. It breaks my heart.
But here’s the thing.
If you wait for the fear to go away, you’ll never get where you want to go. Because the only way to stop being scared, is to stop growing.
And is that really what you want for yourself?
Is that what you want for your business?
No. I didn’t think so.
So here’s the good news.
You can learn how to work with fear. In spite of fear. Through fear. Around fear.
If you’re tired of letting fear drive the bus,
take the dang keys away.
Stop waiting.
Do the thing you’re so afraid of.
Make the call.
Offer the package.
Give the speech.
Make the deposit.
Post the article.
Buy the plane ticket.
Make the decision.
I could tell you dozens of stories about times when I’ve had to stop waiting, and push myself through fear.
Like the first time I called a Senator to ask for help.
Or the first time I got off the plane in a country where I couldn’t read the signs.
Or the first time I made an offer to a client at my more appropriate, up-leveled, prices.
Or the first time I made a decision to hire a coach for the cost of a small car.
And there will be many more of those moments, I’m sure. Because I’m still growing – as a human being, and as a business owner.
And so are you.
So here’s what I want you to ask yourself right now.
Are you waiting for the fear to go away?
Then what one brave thing can you do that will take you one step closer to success?