9/8/23
Did you feel it? Did you feel the seasonal shift this week? I sure did. My kids jumped on a blistering hot bus on Tuesday and by Wednesday we were unpacking our flannels and knits. With every season, we’re often inspired to refresh. Refresh our homes, our wardrobes, our habits or our businesses. Declutter the desk, the bags, the noodle. Sort ourselves out and batten the hatches for the next period in our lives because it will absolutely be the best one ever.
A curious thing about being a coach is that I often need to take a good hard look in the mirror and ask myself some of the same questions I’m asking other people. Prescriptive coaching is the predominant style of most Productivity Coaches, given most of the agents we coach are brand new and they often need more guidance than vision casting. I’m okayish at this, however I prefer to challenge people more than just giving them assignments. I want to push them inward so they can grow outward. I want them to discover the potential in themselves that I already see is there. That’s my jam.
So when somebody sits down with me and tells me they are changing direction… They decide to give up on door knocking. They want to join a team. They want to quit the business. They want to move to another place in the country. They are going to make a change… One thing I always want to know is why. More specifically, I want to know if they’re running toward something or running away from something. Are they avoiding a challenge or are they gravitating toward better opportunities? Even if the answer is a little bit of column A and a little column B, one of those columns is always heavier.
We are an instant gratification generation. We see someone on a tv show that looks familiar and instead of manually digging around in the dusty parts of our brains to figure out where we’ve seen them before, we go straight to Google. We surf channels and reels so fast our brain barely has a chance to process what we’ve seen, and many of us are in the habit of turning the other direction when things feel uncomfortable. We’re accustomed to seeking safety and security without giving ourselves a chance to flex and bend and grow in discomfort.
Now I’m no advocate for stagnancy. I’m not challenging people to get stuck. I want to know if any changes you’re making in your life and business are sourced from discomforts that you want to run away from. I want to know if those discomforts are things that can actually grow you. I want to know if those roots you’re yanking out of the ground are worn out or if, think about it, if the whole tree isn’t even finished growing yet.
Many of you are aware that my business is shifting a bit right now and I will not lie to you, it’s uncomfortable. It’s also incredible. I’m creating new opportunities and I’m manifesting my own life by design, and I genuinely hope to inspire someone to chase their dreams too, even if it’s a little scary. Before making the jump, however I had to ask myself some hard questions. I had to really dig into myself and decide if the season had truly passed or if I was running away. After months of journaling and meditating and consulting with my closest friends, colleagues, coaches, and leaders, I know I’m making the right decision for myself and ultimately, those I love. I’m running toward something really cool.
Are you making changes? Are you inspired by the coming autumn to refresh your environment, your possessions, your business or your people? That’s incredible and exciting and I am so proud of you. Do me a favor. Please take some time to think about the most important thing before you hit the gas, though.
Ask yourself why.
Ask yourself if you are moving toward something better or are you just hoping the next stop is something a little less uncomfortable than where you are right now.
Ask yourself if the tree is actually dying.
Because maybe. Just maybe… it is only changing seasons.
