Presence & Profit Ramblings

I've been thinking about cultural norms this week. My daughter, whose homeschooled, asked if we could read Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants.

From just the title, you wouldn't think that it would have much to do with building a coaching business, but oh my, it does.

In Braiding Sweetgrass, she talks about the way western culture demands that we know something only from our scientific and linear mind.

What a limited way to move through the world, and yet it is what is ingrained in us from a young age.

Schools taught us to ignore our emotions, to only focus on what it takes to get an A in the class, to not ask too many questions, and certainly not to question the cultural norms.

That...

Clarity comes from releasing our offers into the wild.

Only then can we experience how they impact those we wish to serve.

Scary, right?

Any excuse NOT to push the button . . .

The dog needs to be walked. I couldn't possibly push send before I take him.

I need to learn one more thing, and then I will be qualified. Then I will be enough.

Sound familiar?

I've heard it from clients. Let's be honest. I've heard it from myself.

It's hard to release our treasured ideas and projects.

What if they laugh?

What if they don't respect my work?

And, my love, what if they adore it and clamor for more?

What then?

What then?

Truth is you can figure it out, either way.

Through experimentation, analysis, and iteration you will grow, you will discover your...

Culture teaches us to solve our problems with our beautiful minds.

It teaches us from an early age that the only way to a gold star is through following the rules and being "smart."

We quickly learn to push down all the pesky emotions that get in the way of being logical and rational.

I mean we WANT all the gold stars Right?!

And yet, is that really where the real intelligence lies?

Um, hell no.

It is in our ability to lead with our hearts.

A brain in service to the heart is a much more powerful tool.

I remember when I attended the Nine Day School for The Work with Byron Katie, the terror that I felt as the control of the ego/mind slipped away.

I was terrified about what would happen to my business. I mean, I make my money through...

An easy button. Wouldn’t it be grand if we could all have one for our business creation?

I know I would like one.

Sadly, there isn’t one. I’ve looked high and low — no easy button.

That doesn’t mean that being an entrepreneur is all hard work and hustle.

Nope.

I believe the key to consistent, sustainable success is found at the intersection of mind-body work and principles of sound business practice.

It is an unusual combination and one that I have seen work across the board for my clients, time, and time again — one that brings creativity, joy, and excitement to their business. Their business becomes their haven.

We can achieve our goals when we learn to listen and trust our inner knowing, along with...

In response to my recent post about my obsession with James Fraser, someone asked, "How do I know if I'm checking-out or if I'm resting?"

Such a good question! 

The answer is you can tell the difference by how it feels in your body. 

I know, I KNOW, feelings They can be so . . . uncomfortable.

I, too, avoided listening to mine for years. And yet, leaning into the discomfort of our feelings is what can unlock the transformation you're seeking. 

Back to resting vs. checking out . . . 

Get still focus on your action or inaction, as the case may be. Ask yourself, does it feel like slipping into a hot bath on a cold wintery evening, or does it feel like trying to walk through thick sticky mud? 

If it feels...

Have you ever found yourself mindlessly binging on Netflix? Outlander, perhaps? Me neither, but I've read about it on the internet, or maybe, just maybe I found myself watching episode after episode of our favorite Scott, Jamie Fraser this past week.

At first blush, I could justify it and say I was resting by watching hours of Outlander. I deserve the time off. 

But if I'm honest, that wasn't the case–and that's why we're here for real talk about building your business.

Nope. I wasn't resting. I was avoiding uncomfortable and vulnerable feelings around my business. I was checked-out. 

You see, before I found myself admiring the benefits of a man in a kilt, I had been in a meeting with my Mastermind when my FULL on...

Are you ready to stop hustling and check-in with your business?

Creating an aligned business can be as simple as remembering to check-in with these four pillars to find the middle way to do business. 

Checking-in falls into the simple, not easy category.

I encourage everyone to check-in with four main areas: purpose, passion, presence, and profit before they begin any new project and on a weekly, or at least monthly, basis to evaluate how current projects are serving them.

Purpose:

Purpose Is all about customer alignment and connection.

Are we connected and serving what the customer needs with this offer/action?

Passion:

Passion is about founder alignment.

Is the offer/action in alignment with the founder's desire and inner wisdom?...

It can feel hard to do business right. It can often feel as if you have only two options: to hustle hard or check out.

But there is another way, a third choice: you can drop into presence and check-in with your business and your spirit.

Discover what is aligned for YOU.

Drop into

Presence
Reverence
Invitation
Love

Then check-in with your Soul Council to hear what is right for you, in this moment. 

Money one of culture’s taboos.

Phillip Pullman says, “I feel not a flicker of shame about declaring that I want as much money for my work as I can get. But, of course, what the money is buying, what it’s for, is security, and space, and peace and quiet, and time.” It’s our responsibility, to ourselves, to our families, and to our colleagues to be paid properly.

And yet so many of us shirk away from admitting that we are fond of money. We don’t want to be seen as greedy or arrogant or any number of other nasty descriptors our inner critic can throw our way on a whim.

How do we embrace money, as Pullman suggests?

For me, it has been one step at a time.

Noticing where I am focusing on myself and not on the...