“There comes a point when, if you’re serious about running your own business, you need to focus in on the idea that’s working best for you and put all of your energy and effort into making that into a success… At first the signs may be difficult to see, especially if you’re not paying attention. Spend too long running around in a flap chasing every opportunity that comes your way and you’ll miss them. You have to look closely to see what’s working – and you also have to stop undermining yourself at every turn, telling yourself that nothing’s working. Something always is.”~ Excerpted from a recent blog post by Dawn Waldron

When I first read this brilliant post, I completely dismissed it. I read through it, didn’t see any relevance to my situation and moved on. It wasn’t until the very end of my weekly chat/coaching session with Dawn, when she casually asked if I’d read it, that I sat up and paid attention.

Up to that point in the conversation, I’d been tap dancing. For upwards of ninety minutes, I had talked about everything but what was bothering me most… my business, or lack thereof.

I was shuffling around it because it’s an old, tired conversation and I fear that everyone in my life is tired of hearing it. Hell, I’m tired of hearing it. How could everyone else not be?

So, I did what most people do when they don’t want to bore people with their recurring tales of woe… I talked about all the things that are working in my life. Which is not necessarily bad in and of itself. I mean, what’s wrong with focusing on the positive?

Nothing. Unless you happen to be talking to your coach – the person you’re supposed to go to with your struggles. If you find yourself avoiding talking to your coach about what’s not working in your life, you know you’ve got a real problem.

I have a coaching theory that has proven to be pretty accurate over the years… When you’re in a coaching-type conversation with someone, the first thing and the last thing they say are the most relevant.

For example, when Dawn and I first started this particular conversation, she asked how I was doing. My answer was telling. I said, “I’m doing OKAY.” Just like that. I emphasized the OKAY, which meant, “I’m not great. Something’s bothering me. I’m actually on the verge of losing my shit.”

Whenever someone says they’re okay, they’re really saying they’re not okay. They don’t say they’re fine or good or great and it’s intentional. They’re holding back. They’re sending a subtle message that they’re sort of hoping you pick up on. They don’t want to whine or moan or complain but something is definitely bothering them.

What was bothering me then was what is usually bothering me… my inability to realize any real commercial success. I’m not going to prove my point by publishing my sad, rather embarrassing, totally depressing readership statistics or my year-to-date income statement. You’ll just need to trust me when I say it’s sad, embarrassing and depressing.

(Eh hem)

Anyway, as I half spilled my guts, half continued acting like all of this wasn’t that big of a deal, Dawn – as she is prone to doing – busted off a little nonchalant, subtle ninja coaching of her own by asking if I’d read her most recent blog post.

“Um… yeah”, I said, searching my memory for the gist of the article while scrambling to pull it up on my computer, just in case she asked me any pertinent questions about it.

“Read it again and figure out what’s working”, she said. And with that, we wrapped up our already very lengthy conversation and went our separate ways.

So I read it again and started asking myself, per her specific instructions, what’s working? The first thing I got hung up on was the definition of “working”. What does that mean? Are we talking popularity? Profitability? Effectiveness?

If I used all those criteria, than the answer to the question what’s working would be nothing. Presuming that wasn’t the answer that Dawn had in mind, I decided to focus on effectiveness. What actually works? What accomplishes its intended outcome?

As I went down the list of products and services that I have developed and delivered, one stood out above the rest… the 90-Day Revolution Power Play, my one-on-one coaching program. It works. It absolutely works. I’ve had twelve people participate in from start to finish in the last year since I first created it and rolled it out and every single one of those people has been satisfied, if not completely thrilled, with the results. It works.

I wish I had more participants, no doubt about that. But at the end of the day, that has nothing to do with the efficacy of the program. That has to do with marketing.

As I continued down the list of things I’m doing… the 90-Day Revolution, Revolutionary Ramblings, writing this blog, etc. I realized that those are working too. They’re all effective and of a high quality. I might need to tweak some things here and there but for the most part, it’s all good.

That changes things.

I’ve got a newfound belief in my abilities.

That totally changes things.

It’s not me or my products or my talents or abilities. It’s something else. It’s marketing.

I can deal with that. I can get better at it or can hire someone to do it for me.

What I can’t deal with is the constant doubt in myself that I’ve been carrying around for way too long. That’s what’s eating me alive, undermining my efforts and causing me to chase every sparkly idea that happens to hit my brain (and just for the record, there are A LOT of them. Think: the 4th of July).

Now I can focus, breathe, relax (a little).

I’m an excellent coach. I’m a good writer. My marketing department needs help.

That I can work with.

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In my first attempt at focusing on what’s working and marketing it a little better, I did some spring cleaning on the 90-Day Revolution Power Play page. Take a peek and let me know what you think! Any suggestions on how to get the word out to others? My marketing department would love to hear from you!

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