Episode Transcript

It’s easy to get bogged down in the daily details of your coaching business especially when you’re not yet earning the way you want to. You are developing content, posting on social channels, speaking, networking — hustling in every way you can.

But have you ever tried doing nothing to build your business? I’m talking about scheduling at least a half day each quarter to just be with yourself, think and reflect. It will help you reach your full potential.

This is not just a pretty idea. It’s achievable, but maybe not in the way you’ve been imagining.

This episode has 7 powerful questions to ask yourself during this half day break that will raise self-awareness so you can see yourself in a better light and then move forward grounded in your genius. We’re talking evolutionary power here, guys. Find the full transcript and other resources for coaches at prosperouscoach.com/219.

The #1 Skill You Need for Your Coaching Business

I was chatting with my good friend recently and she said something that blew my mind. See, I’ve been an entrepreneur for 26 years now. It’s been quite a while since I’ve worked for a corporation so I’m a bit out of the loop.

We were talking about the pros and cons of earning as a coach by getting corporate contracts versus enrolling clients who pay out of their own pocket. I have a bias that it’s so much easier if you are paid by the individuals you serve. Your client’s personal investment in themselves makes the coaching more effective.

I made an off-hand comment that decision makers who hold the purse strings in corporations care far more about bottom line and productivity than the internal development of their leaders. My friend quickly disagreed and I was humbled … in a good way. She said:

The #1 skill looked for in leaders is SELF AWARENESS.

That applies to coaches as well.

The upshot of our conversation was that it made me pause and reflect about my own self-awareness levels and I realized that when I have paused in my business to consider who I am being, what drives me and what’s truly important to me now, it has brought in a renewed sense of excellence and enjoyment into my business. Good things come from that!

It’s as if I see myself on a different plane than the everyday mode of existence. And, with this heightened sense of self, the daily challenges fall away and I reach back into my creative spirit and nurture my own genius.

Yes, genius. Everyone has genius. I mean YOU!

Your Work with a Capital ‘W’

Entrepreneurship is a rich territory to do your work with a capital ‘W’ — to find your voice, live from your values and do things your unique way. It’s a form of self-expression that happens to also be your livelihood.

It is what I would call the spiritual opportunity in running your coaching business.

Yes, it’s about helping others, but it is also about helping yourself reach greater levels of potential.

Look, I sometimes feel that the drive to find your passion, to reach your full potential can be a way to beat yourself up if you’re not feeling it. There’s this search, and so often it is for something outside of yourself, that will clue you in to your purpose here.

It took me a few decades to realize it is not at all something out there – something external. It’s not a striving thing, it’s a relaxing into thing. It’s not necessarily always clear but with the quiet space of doing nothing and gently questioning yourself, you can feel into an expansive part beyond judgment.

Self-awareness opens the doors of possibility. It keeps you grounded and lifts your spirit.

Imagine how that will juice up your business, your experiences with clients and help you to earn well. But it’s not just about the material success.

The 7 Powerful Questions and an Invitation to You

So, I invite you to make this commitment with me now … block out a half day every quarter. Call it something like Reflection Time. Make it a sacred space and time that you don’t ignore, conveniently forget or re-schedule. And then:

• Be your own best friend.
• Enjoy the solitude.
• Embrace feeling good about yourself and your circumstances, even if they feel hard.
• Let your mind be flexible.
• Rekindle your sense of humor.
• And, ask yourself these 7 questions:

1. What 3 words describe how you’ve shown up over the last quarter?
2. What has been working you for the last 90 days? (You know, something in your face, triggering old wounds and creating resistance.)
3. Where have you felt out of control in your life and how will you take control of your internal world?
4. What’s a mistake you made over the last quarter that needs to be rectified and forgiven?
5. What is the best thing you’ve learned over the last quarter and how will you integrate it further?
6. What specific values have driven you this quarter and what values would you prefer drive you now?
7. What achievements, small or large, will you celebrate to give you more energy for your future?