Here's the thing: are you REALLY ready?

are-you-really-readyWe all, at some point, talk about the changes we want to make in our businesses and lives. I know, I talk to clients who want change all the time. And at this time of year, there’s a lot of it about.

In my experience, people are either ready to explore options (with guidance or on their own) or stuck in refusing to consider anything at all. Occasionally, we’re somewhere in between, or pendulum-swinging between the two.

That stuck-ness is fear and resistance. And it’s part of the process. Sometimes we have to pretend everything’s fine and shoot down every idea and observation anyone has – or that we have about ourselves. Our ego is fragile and needs to be right.

Until it doesn’t. Until we let ourselves get quiet enough to hear the small, persistent voice within that says, “This isn’t working for me. I’m not sure what the answer is yet, but I’m ready to ask the question.”

That voice is different to fear and ego. Our authentic voice doesn’t say, “This is bullshit. I shouldn’t have to put up with this. Everybody else should change.”

Being ready – really ready – can feel terrifying in a totally different way.

It means we’re ready to challenge the status quo. It feels like courage, even if we haven’t actually done anything differently yet. It feels like stepping into a different world. And it can feel like coming home.

There are a lot of people out there promising to change you or your business or your life without acknowledging that real change isn’t effortless. Real change comes from within and requires energy and readiness and adrenaline and that oh-my-god-I-can’t-believe-I’m-doing-this feeling.

I’ve been sucked into these promises too. And I’ve discovered that there’s a big difference in their effectiveness: if I’m not ready, it’s not worth it.

Don’t invest in courses or mentoring or coaching if you’re not ready to really ask the big questions, explore possibilities and cultivate the vulnerability of the creative process.

If you still feel stuck, a bit too attached to your status quo and staying safe, you need to explore that before you go any further. Or find a course or coach who can help you explore your resistance. That’s worth it – but only if you know you’re ready to shift it.

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re on your way to being ready. And if you are, I’m here, cheering you on (and even if the support you need isn’t my professional support). The thing is, if you’re ready, I’m on your side, whatever “ready” means, because I’m ready too. I’m walking the path of always asking the difficult questions and sitting with the tricky answers. And celebrating the heart-soaring moments, too.

As a coach and mentor, I know when clients aren’t ready. And I know that they’ll listen but not really make a change. The most satisfying clients are the ones who are ready. Do it when you’re ready.

Here's the thing: measuring success

Financial successI’m not a massive one for new year’s resolutions  (though I do love my word of the year habit). This year, having had quite a busy and shake-me-up year in 2016, I’m ready to come back to myself, to blogging and writing and mentoring now that copper boom has some security.

So let’s get really honest, shall we? I’m ready to spill the beans, as I love to do.

One of the things I love about Copper Boom is that it gives me so much more practical experience in running a bigger, more complex business. It is expanding my knowledge, courage and insight in really amazing ways.

Of course, especially in the first six months of business, that has not felt comfortable. Much of the time, I’ve thought I’m failing, or worried that I will.

And the biggest source of worry? Money.

Until 2016, I had a fairly good relationship with money. I’d never been in debt, save a student loan that I paid back through working and some money from my parents. (Yes, I check my privilege here.) I was earned just enough and then a good amount before I left my job. I had a small pot when I started mentoring. And this simple, low-overhead, #onegirlband, sole tradership created a fairly regular income quite quickly.

Now, I have a loan, a staff, a two year lease, and a business not yet earning it’s keep. Every member of staff involved is making more money from Copper Boom than I am right now.

And let me say right now: this is normal.

There’s so much pressure in the entrepreneurship community about hitting six figures, about immediately getting to a huge profit margin, and gaining #lifegoals and lifestyle aspiration immediately.

You guys, it takes a while, especially with overheads and ideas and developing a brand.

I’m fairly risk-friendly these days. I acknowledge that you have to be at least a little bit vulnerable to try something. And you will make the best decisions you can, but there will still be decisions that don’t work out. Or need refining.

I want to talk about this because I think it’s important to recognise we’re all human and working in an imperfect environment. That doesn’t mean we don’t try to do good or look good. It just means we know that we all fail and stall and slow down from time to time.

And for me? The truth of it is I have close to zero pounds in the bank. And a bucketload of ideas and valuable services to offer. Yes, I will continue.

If everyone judged their success on the financial results of the first six months of trading, very few businesses would exist now.

So. I’m going to be here, telling the truth, working hard and being perfectly imperfect.

Join me?

Jx

On the cusp

We’re in that liminal, in-between space, seeing out one year and starting to look forward to the next.

If you’re anything like me, you have a secret mess of a list titled ‘2017’, which includes every idea you’ve had since about September and couldn’t find time to work on. And perhaps that list doesn’t seem as exciting now that we’re approaching 1 January…

Well, the good news is, list or no, a new year brings the opportunity to start afresh anyway.

You get to cast aside any and all preconceptions.

You get to dream, fully.

You get to put everyone else’s ideas, contributions, expectations and ‘helpful’ suggestions to one side.

You get to carve out space exclusively for yourself to dream and plan.

You can let go of anything and everything that isn’t working for you.

You can introduce new ideas, concepts and tiny nuggets of gold to your plans, big and small.

And you can change your mind.

 

What we know about 2017

This year, spreading out in front of us, demonstrating the start of a new cycle and bringing new hope, is unknown. It’s uncertain – deliciously so, if we can choose to embrace it.

We know it will surprise us, but also that there will be challenges and disappointments.

There will be beauty, but there will also be sadness.

There will be opportunities to move closer to our dreams, or further away from them. And the choice will be ours.

2017 is delightfully unwritten, but you can write it, if you choose to stand up, in your courage, to live the life you want to.

I’ll be right there with you.

With care,
Jenny xx

The Year’s End: a workbook for your creative business

This year, I created a workbook, spreadsheet and video package to help you reflect on 2016 and look forward to 2017. It’s still available here, and highly recommended if you want to dive in deeper to planning the year ahead.

The Small Creative Business Retreat 2017

Described as “life-changing” by the women who came last year (over half of whom have booked to come again), my retreat is still open for booking until the end of this week! A long weekend in a stunning house in the Cotswolds. A place where you don’t have to wash up a single cup or cook a single meal. A place to dream, scheme and meet like-minded business owners. A necessity!

optin-cup

Notes of Encouragement

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