Are you where you thought you’d be
six months into 2010?

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Something I see so often in my coaching practice is inspired, passionate business owners struggling to make a living doing work they absolutely love.  They struggle because they are operating under the assumption that one of the biggest myths about living your passion is true.

The myth that says if we just follow our passion and honor our calling, prosperity will flow forth.  This myth teaches us that success is imminent if we just hang out our shingle or launch our website.

You know the one I mean, right?  I like to call it the “if you build it, they will come” myth but, this myth only tells half the story.

The truth is, the myth forgets to mention that in addition to passion, you also need to add clear direction and a plan in order to fulfill your soul’s calling and make a successful living doing it.  Now I know for many soul-inspired entrepreneurs, the word plan can instantly trigger a fear response, but creating your plan doesn’t have to be a scary or painful process, but it is something that you absolutely must do in order to stop struggling and start thriving in your business.

I liken the process to taking a vacation or an extended road trip.  In order for you to have a rich, enjoyable trip, you first need to know where you are going.  Once you have a destination in mind, you need to map out a route to get you there.  You might even mark off some stops along the way to eat, get more gas or rest.  A minimal amount of preparation and planning will have you arriving at your destination, safe, happy and on schedule.

It’s the same with your divinely inspired business, when you take the time up front to create clear goals and a simple action plan, you not only achieve the success you’ve dreamed of, you do it with the least amount of resistance possible.  When passion and planning come together, it’s a magical partnership that allows you to share your gifts with more of the people who need them, create transformational experiences for a steady flow of ideal clients and earn a great living doing what you love.

How can I be so sure?

I am sure because I have triumphed over the “if you build it, they will come” myth by bringing a clear vision, measurable goals and a simple action plan to my own business.  In fact, it’s how I took my own business from struggling to THRIVING in just a few short months.  This simple exercise of combining planning and passion changed my life and my business forever!

When I left my corporate job to start my own business, I had lots of passion for my “soul work”, but absolutely no plan to ensure that my endeavor was successful.  It took me almost a full year, a ton of frustration and an empty bank account to realize that I needed more than just passion if I wanted to stay in business for the long haul.

I really should have known better, I had spent the better part of my 20+ year career in the corporate arena as a project manager and systems expert.  I had helped tons of people create project plans and develop systems that ensured a successful outcome.  But when it came to my own business, I threw all of that out the window and put all my stock in the myth.

Finally, faced with the reality of that empty bank account and notion that if something didn’t change and change quick, I’d be forced back into the corporate arena, I decided to put some of that project planning and systems development experience to work in my own business.  Then voila, the switch flipped and things started to really take off.  Within three months, I had seen a 70% increase of clients and income in my business and things just keep getting better and the best part is, the struggle is gone!

Are you struggling in your soul-inspired, passion-driven business?

The fact is, you don’t have to struggle, none of us do.  All you need to do is add some planning to that passion and the struggle will be gone, I promise!

Here’s my simple five step system designed to take you from struggling to thriving in no time!

1. Get clear on your mission and your BIG business vision. – This means dream big, what is your wildest passion and your greatest gift for helping others.  No playing small for you!
2. Take stock of where you are. – Knowing where you are helps you to see what steps you need to take to get you where you want to be.  Be honest with yourself and get ready to catapult forward!
3. Develop a pathway of achievable and measureable milestones – Once you know where you are and where you are going, it’s easy to start creating a pathway that takes you from one place to the other.  Check your progress against your pathway often and don’t forget to celebrate your successes or be gentle with yourself if you steer off your path.  Course correction is all part of the journey!
4. Identify areas where you need to grow, need support or need additional resources and get it! – This is one of the biggest challenges for soul-based business owners, we want to help the world, but often forget to ask for help ourselves.  The truth is, no-one can reach their full potential without the support of others, so figure out what you need and then ask for it!
5. Take action – Yes, it sounds simple, but fear of failure or more often the fear of success can keep us in a holding pattern.  Remember, the only way move ahead is to take a step forward.  Your journey begins with your first step!