I believe you know what’s best for you and your business. You know when you feel in alignment in business, and in life…and when you feel resistance.
If you were to tell me that you don’t want to use social media to promote your upcoming program, I’d say, “Okay – no problem.”
Should you ask me, “Do I really have to have a website/email list/daily podcast to grow my business?” I’d tell you, “Not if you don’t want to.”
And I’d help you figure out what to do instead because feeling alignment in business is crucial to success.
In order to do that, I’d encourage you to take a look at WHY you don’t want to do the thing you don’t want to do. You might be surprised at what you can learn.
Is there something you can think of that you’re not too keen on doing in your business? It could be marketing-related, but it doesn’t have to be.
What is it that makes you not want to do it?
If thinking about doing it makes you feel scared…
Then it’s a good idea to explore those feelings a little further:
What are you scared of?
What’s the worst thing that could happen if you did it?
How can you practice so it becomes less scary?
If it feels too complicated…
It likely is.
Take a step back and ask yourself:
Is there a way to make it simpler?
Is there a simpler way to achieve the result you’re aiming for?
What is the simplest way to do it?
If you feel bad or yucky inside when you try to/do it…
There’s likely a misalignment at play.
To find out what it is, ask yourself:
What exactly is it about what I’m doing that makes me feel bad or yucky inside?
What important value do I hold that it’s rubbing up against?
How can I do this differently that would feel good to me?
If it doesn’t bring you joy or it drains you…
It’s probably not a good fit for you.
Again, it’ll help if you can get specific about what it is you don’t like or enjoy about it. Are there elements that energize you or make you happy?
If so, you may be able to find ways of doing more of that.
If not, you may need to try something else.
What are you great at?
What feels so natural to you that you don’t even think about doing it?
If you’re working hard to do it, but you aren’t seeing the return – and you’re getting tired…
You may not be showing up as the real you.
Ask yourself these questions:
What am I doing that feels unnatural to me?
Who am I pretending to be?
If there were no rules to follow, how would I do it? What would I do differently?
What’s stopping me from doing it the way that feels more like me?
If you’re not good at it…
Maybe you aren’t – but someone else probably is.
Do I have to be the one who does it?
Is it worth the time, energy and money it would take for me to learn how to do it?
Would having someone else take care of this for me mean I can breathe a little easier?
Would it mean I’d have more time to focus on what I am good at?
Can my business survive if it doesn’t get done?
If not, and I don’t have the resources to pay someone else to do it – yet – how can I make it more manageable/enjoyable for me?
CHOOSING WHAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU
Despite what anyone tells you, there is no one right way to be in business. But there is a right way for you to be in yours.
Part of that means saying no to what doesn’t work for you.
When you understand why you don’t want to do something, it offers you valuable clues about who you are and how you work best. This kind of clarity can lead you to find and embrace what does.
And with this knowledge in hand, you can make better business choices, which in turn bring you more ease and joy.
WHAT SHOWED UP FOR YOU?
I’m curious about what you learned by taking a look at what it is you don’t want to do in your business. Send a note to mary@marymstrachan.com and fill me in.
If you discovered that there’s a misalignment at play, your “something” isn’t a good fit, or you’re not showing up as the real you, reach out – I may be able to help you figure out what to do instead.
Mary Strachan helps purpose-driven entrepreneurs amplify their impact in a simple, strategic and sustainable way. As a business and marketing strategist, Mary has dedicated her life to helping visionary women make the world a better place through their small businesses. Though based in Canada, she works with entrepreneurs across the globe. Mary made the transition to coaching in 2014 after a successful career in non-profit organizations. Visit www.marymstrachan.com for more information.
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