So you want to make a difference in the world – through your business or your job – but what you’re doing isn’t working. And maybe there are times when you feel like giving up?
Well, you’re in great company – it happens to most of us, when we miss out this one vital step that nobody is talking about.
In today’s Dare To Dream Bigger podcast episode I’m going to let you know why it’s happening – and what you can do about it:
[smart_track_player url=”https://episodes.castos.com/clarejosa/daretodreambigger-episode-019.mp3″ ]
Here’s the transcript – and scroll down for the quiz:
I published an article last week that went viral – all about what will happen with EU VAT on Digital sales, if the UK leaves the EU. It was based on my experience of co-founding the EU VAT Action Campaign and working with key decision-makers in the UK government, the European Parliament and the EU Commission to reverse the unintended consequences of these laws on micro businesses.
The article quickly went viral. It also filled my Facebook personal profile inbox with requests for help. {Hint: not the best way to get a reply from me – this works much better :-)}
So many people who have been doing programmes on how to create an online course have realised that the various instructors weren’t telling them about EUVAT – or how to stay legal – and they wanted me to answer the questions for them. I directed them to the bits of the EU VAT Action website where they could find answers, as well as the EU VAT Action Campaign group, on Facebook.
But then I noticed a common trend amongst their messages. And it had nothing to do with sales tax.
They had shelled out lots of money (4-figures upwards) to be taught how to create an online course, which covered how to get clarity on who your customer is, what their ‘pain points’ are, and how specifically you solve that problem. They were also being taught, step by step, the tech side of creating an online course.
But the most important step was missing. And it’s the same reason why it doesn’t work, when we apply other people’s ‘golden bullets’ to our business dreams.
Here’s something I see that’s common in big-name programmes: there are a few people in the group who are superstars, for whom the ‘system’ works, and they have incredible success. But the vast majority of people are working their backsides off, achieving little more than incremental results.
I’ve been there, too. I know how demoralising that feels. You wind up exhausted, overwhelmed, blaming yourself for somehow not being ‘good enough’ to get promised results, and feeling guilty about the huge investment you just made, which doesn’t look like it will pay off. After all, you’ve spent so much to get the ‘system’ from your hugely successful guru, so if it doesn’t work for you, it must be your fault, mustn’t it? Remember the Emperor’s New Clothes?
Now here comes the clincher:
I remember back in 2003, when I qualified as an NLP Trainer, being taught the difference between Mastery and a great teacher. A Master is brilliant at what they do, but they do it so subconsciously that they have forgotten how to stand in the shoes of a learner. They get called on to teach, but struggle to help people get the same results as they do, because their Mastery isn’t in their conscious awareness – they miss out vital steps that they take for granted.
In contrast, a great teacher and mentor has the ability to break down the steps and foundations required for a result, identifying which elements make the critical difference, and to teach them in a way that motivates and inspires their students – often to surpass the teacher’s or mentor’s performance.
Now, the common threads I was seeing in these messages were the trigger phrases that let me know that someone has missed out step 2 of turning your dreams into reality. They were being taught by Masters who had forgotten that the main reason they are successful is because they had step 2 sewn up.
So step 1 is getting total clarity about what you want – your Big Why, your Big Vision, who you are serving, what keeps them up at night, and how you can help them.
Step 3 is the inspired action that creates breakthroughs – rather than the step-by-step ‘to do’ list overwhelm-inducing action plan.
But in the middle needs to come ‘step 2’: clearing out the blocks. We’re talking self-sabotage, negative self-talk, not believing in yourself, hidden fears, out-of-date comfort zone excuses, and success-trashing limiting beliefs.
These Facebook messages were full of phrases like:
- I feel embarrassed to post my question in the XYZ group
- I’m scared that if I ask this question publicly, people will realise I don’t really know what I’m doing
- I’m worried that if I don’t sort this out, I’ll get caught out, but the tech side terrifies me
- I’ve already got so much to do that I don’t have time to research XYZ – could you just tell me what to do?
Believe me, I’m not judging here. I have run all of these – and many more!
Let’s take each in turn, to decode them:
- I feel embarrassed to post my question in the XYZ group
For this one to be running, it means the person is lacking in self-confidence and potentially struggles with asking for the support they need. If they go on to launch their online course, without having dealt with this, they risk not taking the actions they need, to get people registering. And they are risking creating a sales page that ‘feels’ apologetic, as their customers read it. - I’m scared that if I ask this question publicly, people will realise I don’t really know what I’m doing
This is classic Imposter Syndrome – ‘feeling like a fraud’ – being scared that you’ll get caught out for ‘daring’ to let your light shine and step into your Soul-Shoes. If you launch a course with this running, then you’ll really struggle to position yourself as a credible authority and you’re unlikely to do the publicity that is needed to fill your programme. - I’m worried that if I don’t sort this out, I’ll get caught out, but the tech side terrifies me
So this person is wanting to do the right thing, to keep their business legal, but they’re overwhelmed by the tech side. If I were mentoring them, I’d start by finding out how they feel about getting the support they need, in general, because this is a strong indicator that they either feel they have to do it all themselves, or they’re scared they won’t make enough money to pay for help.
Can you imagine how this might impact the success of their programme? - I’ve already got so much to do that I don’t have time to research XYZ – could you just tell me what to do?
‘So much to do’ is a classic example of overwhelm, which usually stems from either:- Lack of clarity on your Big Vision and specifically what the project entails
- Perfectionism – drowning in your need to get it ‘just right’ – usually on your own…
- Not asking for support and doing things that are no where near your Inner Genius, so they take you too long
- Procrastination – running a self-doubt / self-sabotage / Imposter Syndrome pattern that makes the idea of getting your project launched subconsciously terrifying. This is what leads us to keep looking for more information – more ‘how to’ – convincing ourselves we’re ‘not quite ready yet’, rather than taking the actions that will move us towards our goal.
These are just a few examples of the many inside blocks that can derail us, if we’re moving from ‘brilliant idea’ to ‘successful product and business asset’.
Yet most people don’t even realise they’re running these patterns, let alone know how to handle them.
That’s why I’m always going on about changing the world being an ‘inside job’.
You’ve got to decide what you really want to create, line up with that, clear out the blocks that will otherwise get in your way. That’s doing the ‘inside work. And then take inspired action, from your Inner Genius, rather than drowning in ‘to do’ list overwhelm.
Here’s the thing: the ‘superstars’ in those groups had already done the ‘inside work’ – or at least enough of it to stop secretly self-sabotaging their success. The biz-gurus had done it, too, and most likely paid many thousands for the privilege.
But those who flounder – who don’t get the results – usually don’t even realise that there’s ‘inside work’ to be done. And it’s so sad, because when you know how to spot your blocks, dealing with them is straightforward. It can even be fun.
If this has ever happened to you (and it has happened to me, many times!), then I’ve got a really important message for you:
You are not broken. You’ve just got some out-of-date blocks that are getting in the way. And those blocks are nothing more than beliefs and habits – neural pathways in your brain.
Just as you learned to walk and to talk, which created new neural pathways (like shortcuts, hard-wired in your brain), so you can change any beliefs, fears, self-doubts, excuses and blocks.
If you’re curious about finding out which blocks you’re running, and what you can do about them, then I’ve created a free quiz for you. Answer the five quick questions, below, and the results will give you an indicator as to which block or blocks are the strongest for you, plus you’ll get some practical actions you can take today, to start setting yourself free.
Want to take it right now?
Quick Quiz: Where Am I Stuck?
[display_form id=18]
Want to deep-dive and find out more about your hidden blocks? And what to do about them?
Join me for this instant-access masterclass, where I share the exact process and questions I use with my mentoring clients and Masterminders, to help them figure out where they’re secretly stuck. Plus I’ll be giving you practical, actionable tips on how to handle those blocks, so you can set yourself free to make the difference you’re here to make in the world.
This masterclass is normally £97, but at the moment it’s yours, as my gift to you and your future. I’m not sure how long it will stay free (my colleagues say I’m crazy for giving it away, and they’re probably right 🙂 )
Make sure you don’t miss out – register FREE to watch the Business Breakthrough Masterclass:
That’s all for today – I really hope you have found this helpful.
And I’d love to hear from you via the comments:
- Which blocks were you running?
- Any surprises? Insights? Lightbulbs?
- What action could you take in the next hour to start setting yourself free from those old blocks?
And if you found today’s instalment helpful, please share it far and wide via social media and wherever else your business friends and colleagues are hanging out. I’d love to help and inspire as many people as possible with this.
With love, Namaste,
P.S. Big #ShoutOut and #Gratitude to Chris Lema for helping me to create the quiz. Chris: you’re a superstar!