Why You Need to "Date" Your Business

The other day a thought struck me.

Building a business is a lot like dating.

It can be exciting, alluring, breathtaking, fun, NEW!

It can also be totally frustrating, tiring, feel like it’s taking forever to get to your desired outcome.

But here’s where things diverge a little bit…

If I were to ask you, what is your ultimate goal for your business?

Your answer would probably be a version of “To be successful!”

And, if I were to ask you, what is/was your ultimate goal for dating?

You’d likely say something like “To find my perfect partner!”

Ok, awesome. You know where you want to go! That’s the first step.

Now, let’s follow that up with Q #2.

Q: When would you like to be super successful in your business?

A: Yesterday! It can’t happen fast enough :-)

Q: When would like that ring on your finger?

A: I don’t know / Soon(ish) / When the timing’s right! We’re totally in love, and things are so much fun! There’s no big rush. I know we’ll get there eventually.

Interesting…

Notice how our expectations are radically different?

Yet, the process of creating a business and creating a life partner aren’t that dissimilar. They both involve love, commitment, dedication, and trust.

When it comes to our business, we beat ourselves up for not being “there” faster. We don’t trust that it’s happening -- that everything we’re doing is moving us in the right direction.

In a great relationship, sure we think about the timeline, but it’s not something we necessarily beat ourselves up over. We have more faith in the process. We trust that if we keep clicking, keep enjoying, keep learning, keep loving, we will find that commitment and love that we’re looking for.

Totally different with our businesses. We start questioning everything because we’re not an “overnight success”. In love, we often want to spend 1, 2, maybe even 5 years getting to know someone before we say “I do”.

We want the journey, the experience, the time.

I wouldn’t trade those 6 years I had with my husband before we were married for anything. During that time we grew together and developed an essential foundation for all that we’ve done, become and accomplished since. I cherish that time.

With our business, however, we want to skip ahead to success -- to that steady, reliable place. We want to skip straight to “marriage”.

But, if we skip right to marriage, we’d be totally unprepared! Not to mention, we’d miss out on so many memories, so many lessons. Simply put, we’d miss out on so much good stuff.

We need the journey to get us ready for the destination.

Here’s what I think. We should want to “date” our businesses. To learn what works and what doesn’t, to try things, to overcome obstacles, to get stronger and do better.

We should embrace the time that it takes, not criticize it. We should look ahead with anticipation of where we’re heading without feeling rushed to get there faster.

Click to tweet this #DoseOfClarity: I’m dating my #business & I’m falling more in #LOVE every day.

[Tweet "I’m dating my #business & I’m falling more in #LOVE every day http://calmbiz.com/?p=5199"]

When it comes down to it, in both business and dating, we shouldn’t want to miss out on all the really amazing new relationship stuff that’s essential to long term happiness!

Every day you have the opportunity to fall more in love with your business.

Don’t wish that time away.

With love,

P.S. There is an amazing group of business-loving women that will welcome you in with open arms -- join us here.

What Business Are You REALLY In?

I’ve got an interesting question for you.

When I first started to consider it, it got me really excited and gave me even greater clarity about my WHY.

So, here it is for you...

What business are you really in?

At first, you might feel compelled to respond with…

“I’m a coach / entrepreneur / small business owner / creative / yoga teacher / artist / mentor”

But, I’m challenging you to unpack it more.

Get underneath all the layers.

Behind your title, under your business model, inside your brand, what’s there?

What is it that you -- and ONLY YOU -- are offering to the world?

That, my dear, is where the TRUTH of the TRUTH lies. The bud of the bud (I’m channeling e.e. cummings here, can you tell?).

That is your essence, your soul’s purpose, your reason for being on this planet.

Now, that may sound like a lot of weight to put on one little question, but I encourage you to play around with this. Allow it to draw goodness out of you as you think about it. Don’t let it weigh you down, that’s not the point!

Toss it around. Mull it over. Savor the first thought that pops into your mind.

Want to know what business I am really in? Beneath it all?

Here goes…

I’m in the business of Inspired Clarity.

To flesh it out a bit more...

I deliver + evoke clarity that leads to inspired action.

When that hit me, everything seemed so simple. So clear.

When everything comes back to that one kernel of truth, it simplifies the whole deal. (I love simplification, ease and CLARITY, so this felt great to me!)

It was as if I had a new lens through which to look at my business + life and everything made more sense.

If everything I do, create, say, offer, build, develop, or teach has that underlying message, I’m good. I’m on track. I’m doing it. Cool.

Now, it’s your turn, my friend. Inquiry always brings clarity <3 

[Tweet "Inquiry always brings clarity via @cailenascher http://calmbiz.com/what-business-are-you-really-in/"]

What business are you REALLY in?

Ask yourself and see what comes up. Trust what comes up. Love what comes up.

Then, share it here. 

With love,

There is No "Magic" in Wealth Consciousness

There’s a new age of business upon us.

I’m sure you’ve felt it. There’s been a shift -- and you are a part of it.

It’s no longer about scare tactics and hard-selling to make a buck.

It’s about giving, being of service and offering value.

Trust me, I’m all about this evolution. I am this evolution. It completely resonates with me.

But, it can feel a little woo-woo. A tad hard to grasp. And, dare I say it, how will this approach affect my bottom line?

I find myself saying YES to expanding my wealth consciousness, YES to studying the law of attraction, YES when Danielle LaPorte says life is about feeling the way you want to feel, and then I’m hit with....

BUT

...how do I find clients, make money, get the work done, market myself effectively?

How does all this feel-good belief move me forward with some organization and strategy? How do I build my empire without some tangible plans?

Here’s what I’ve come to realize: There is no magic in wealth consciousness. [click to tweet this Truth]

It’s a simple formula. It is strategic.

Your beliefs become your thoughts, and your thoughts become your actions.

Or, to put it even more simply…

Beliefs → Thoughts → Actions

Our core beliefs around money, finances, abundance (or lack thereof) inform our thoughts. And, since about 98% of our daily thoughts are on auto-pilot and the same ones appear again and again, when our beliefs center on lack, scarcity, worry and “not enough” our thought playlist is mighty grim.

Then the actions we take reflect that anxiety. We pinch pennies, stress about bills, don’t take the chance, don’t make the call, don’t put ourselves “out there”.

On the other hand, if we start planting new beliefs about money and abundance in our fertile minds, we can begin to incrementally expand our wealth consciousness and open ourselves up to new opportunities.

We feel more open, full of potential. We make the pitch, make the call, start the business, ask for what we’re worth and believe we are worth it.

Wealth consciousness isn’t magic. It’s cause and effect.

Your beliefs and thoughts result in corresponding actions (or inaction) that deliver certain results. Plain and simple.

If you want to receive new/different/transformed/bigger/happier/better results, you need to start planting new beliefs.

Our beliefs have an ever-expanding ripple effect, like when you drop a small stone in a calm body of water. That one small action has repercussions that travel outward exponentially.

Drop the small stone. It’s time. You are ready.

As a jumping off point, I’ll leave you with this...

What do you believe about money/wealth/being rich/rich people/abundance? What are you saying to yourself on a daily basis because of those beliefs? What actions are you taking because of those beliefs and thoughts?

And…

What is a NEW money belief that you’re ready to live starting now?

With love,

Clarity Confession with Marie Poulin

Confession: “When I shared how to 'Design Your Ideal Week', people said it changed their life.” - Marie Poulin, Digital Strategist & co-founder of Oki Doki.

Marie Poulin is a digital strategist who helps purpose-driven business owners bring digital products and programs to life. She is the founder of Digital Strategy School and is the co-founder of Oki Doki, a company that provides consulting and technology services to entrepreneurs wanting to create more impact by translating their work into online courses.

Marie is fresh, inspiring and all about strategy (which I love!). But, more than that, she is on a mission to help people activate their full potential and make a fulfilling income doing it, too! A girl after my own heart <3

Watch Marie's Clarity Confession to learn…

•  The teaching she shared on her blog that left people saying “it changed my life” (you can find the link below the video)

• The best 2 pieces of advice she’s ever received

• Why you should create a sales page BEFORE you create a product 

• What her first year in business really looked like

• How she moves past self-doubt -- a simple tip that you can use too

Watch Marie's Clarity Confession now.

After you watch this month's Clarity Confession, Marie and I want to hear from you!

Listen until the very end to hear how you can enter for a chance to win a copy of Marie's book, Think Like a Digital Strategist. Visit the Facebook page to submit your entry under the #ClarityConfession post.

Don't worry, I didn't forget. Go here to access Marie's blog post that readers said changed their lives. It's all about designing your ideal week, and it's a game changer. Enjoy!

With love,

You only have 2 days left to submit your application to be considered for True Success Coaching -- my signature 5 month 1x1 program that will help you develop a clear + thoughtful plan for true, lasting success. Plus, when you enroll, you'll receive the Mindset Reset Library as a BONUS! It includes 5 of my all-time favorite books that completely transformed my personal and professional life. Apply here.