Last week I got to spend three days hanging out virtually with some of the most amazing, talented, heart-full people. I’m talking about the folks in our year-long Opening the Moneyflow course plus the Heart of Business team.
We ran a virtual event via video conferencing (which would’ve been a disaster without the incredible help of Jeremie Miller on three spiritual topics that, together, create massive breakthroughs in business. Sovereignty, Ease, and Appreciation.
The three days were filled with many insights. A lot of people cried, including me. And yes, I’ll go on record as saying that I don’t think it’s a successful event without at least half the participants crying at least once.
I don’t know if it will make you cry, but here’s one deceptively simple and profound insight that will turn your relationship with business around if you take it on.
Ready? In every place of “hard” in your business, there’s a challenge waiting for you. If you take it on it will make everything in your business easier and more effective.
- A challenge to trust, learn and grow.
- A challenge to let go of beliefs and opinions based in illusion.
- A challenge to take the time to care for yourself with health food, exercise, and spiritual practice.
- A challenge to choose love over anything that isn’t.
For instance? It’s hard to struggle day after day, without any clients coming in. The challenge is to change your opinion about sales, and learn how to enroll people with integrity.
Another? It’s hard to show up in front of people, time after time, and stutter through answering the question “So, what do you do?”
The challenge is to learn what goes into a compelling sentence, and to make clear decisions about who you help and what you help them with.
A third? It’s hard to to struggle with overwhelm every day, doing everything yourself. The challenge is to let go and trust other people to help you.
Yet one more? It’s hard to feel disconnected, lost and alone. The challenge is to take the time every day for spiritual practice and connection.
One of my favorite questions to ask myself and my clients is this one: “Is love available even here?”
Healing the Hard and Finding the Challenge
Take a moment right now and identify a hard place in your business. Take a gentle breath. Another. Now take a third one, I promise it won’t kill you.
Now, ask your heart, ask yourself to be shown, with a willingness to be surprised, what challenge is waiting for you within that hard place that will bring ease, joy and effectiveness?
Can you find the “Yes” in your heart to let go of the hard and take on this challenge?
Now, don’t keep it a secret. Share with us what you got. What challenge did you find? Did you find a Yes? What are you first one to three steps to taking it on? Tell me about it in the comments.
p.s. Needing some hands-on help?
Sometimes a course or group program just isn’t quite the right thing. Sometimes you want something very custom, with the focus totally on you and your business, on your timeline, on your agenda, you.
Yollana Shore and Jason Stein have years of experience as healers and coaches, and have chalked up tremendous successes with their clients. And they are official Heart of Business practitioners, steeped in our approach.
31 Responses
“A challenge to let go of beliefs and opinions based in illusion.”- this basically helped me in realizing my goals as a person rather than believing on uncertain information why not try to deviate from the norms and be brave.
My challenge is that I am afraid of the technical side to running a business
online and that I am afraid of making mistakes in tha accounting one
has to do. The challenge is to change my mindset sbout these things
and view them as tools that I can learn to use and that are crucial in
making my most cherished dreams come true. Thank you for posting
this! It has given me inspiration and courage to open my Etsy shop!
@Robin- Yay! So glad it’s helped you take a step forward- and great challenge to change the hard!
Having felt the “call” to support people who have had traumatic experiences in their lives I struggled with what the heck to do with that call. Life has shaped and molded me in often painful and difficult ways. I’ve always longed for “it” to be easier. There are plenty of times where it still is hard.
Even more importantly, I’ve learned to trust the painful twists and turns that have shaped my life, seeing how I have been guided away from the “right” way. In that process I have reclaimed my own way to be present in the world. From this vantage point, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Thanks, Mark, for bringing me to this moment of gratitude.
@Deirdre- It’s been an honor, and amazing to watch you in your transformation.
The “hard”: Being self-employed is lonely for me. For a long time I resisted going into acupuncture because self-employment is almost the only option in this field. And I knew this working-alone thing wouldn’t really suit me.
The challenge: Now that I’m established, finding a way to structure my business in a way that actually works for me. This requires shifting gears into a larger, more expansive model. Its a little scary. I don’t really know where to start.
And yet, doing this meditation, I see the positive things that stem from this challenge, and they’re big.
On a personal level, this is something I need to learn in every aspect of my life: to think bigger than what I can do on my own, and to include others in what I’m doing, and join in the community around me. Because that is what I really want, and it’s where I’m at my best, even when my habit is to think it’s safer or more effective to simply rely on myself.
On a professional level, I really believe it’s better for the profession, and the clients, to have practitioners working together, learning from each other, and collaborating with the patients’ other providers. If I can be part of moving the profession in that direction, it will be an important contribution to the field and to the opportunities available to other acupuncturists.
What a shift! Thank you for this, Mark. Thank you.
Marilyn! Woo-hoo! I can feel the ease coming in… And I love your insight about how it’s better for the profession. My acupuncturist works in a clinic with other amazing people- she’s going out on maternity leave, and I’m still completely taken care of. Plus, one of her mentors owns the clinic, and she has continued to grow and learn in amazing ways.
I love my work; I love my clients, I love teaching. But I have health needs for more rest & unstructured time. I have creative work that is hungering for my attention, and for that I also need rest. I need a change of scenery, to get out of the city into a restful, lovely, quiet place in nature. Time off that feeds me. I can feel it, but I don’t know where I want to go. My challenge is to honor my limits. That brought tears when I received that in my meditation. I am afraid my success will “go away” if I leave my business untended for awhile. I am so involved in the day to day that I don’t have the detachment to have a larger vision of how my business fits into my life, and how to balance the different parts of my life. Since I live alone, it’s easy for me to over-identify with my work. My work life has been a source of nourishment for me, and I am tempted to preference it over everything else. My inner boss is too demanding….:)
Nancy- simply beautiful! And what a beautiful challenge: “to honor my limits.” I resonate with that one!
Maybe I didn’t break the site! Phew! That was so long ago I can’t remember my comment.
Oh yeah, this! A challenge to choose love over anything that isn
You are so welcome, Sue!
My challenge is not in generating interest or even qualified leads (although that was a prior challenge now overcome), but in steadily *closing* new business (signing on new clients). it’s not that I’m afraid or inexperienced in having enrollment conversations – I have many – it’s that there is often delay and indecision on the part of prospects to say Yes or get started. (I realize that is potentially indicative of delay and indecision in my own life somewhere).
I love the work I do, and I so want to do more of it, but need clients to make that a reality. The first steps in taking on the challenge that came up was “speak authentically from the heart” and “tell them how you can help them but tell them in the way they most need to hear”.
Thank you for this laser-focused process – it cut through a lot of mental BS for me!
@Karen- that’s very clear! I’m so curious to see- do you have a plan of action/learning to get more effective at enrollment?
A few things, yes. I took a good course on it and clearly it’s time to review a few modules (I have all the material and it is solid). But I also think I need to work on the inviting part of the conversation specifically – to not fear or dread it, to have greater non-attachment in the process, and to simply invite from a deeper, clearer place (for me) while being clear and confident in what I am offering without concern for whether the prospect will say yes or not.
Nice, Karen. Perfect. 🙂
Thank you, that is very validating and reassuring coming from you and I will take all the reassurance and inspiration and good vibes I can!
A new realization for me this morning while in Remembrance. I had been seeing my limitations, due to health and that mysterious phenomenon called aging (what is a “normal” or “acceptable” energy level????). While in Remembrance, I realized that my health, the limits it imposes on me and the attention I give to taking care of my own needs, is an essential element of the work I offer to clients. It’s not a sideways need that causes interference and disruption. It is at the essence of my healing work! Over time, I have raised my prices so that I could see fewer clients. While doing the resonant pricing exercise, my resonant prices are $5-$10 higher than I currently charge. I have resisted raising my prices. Just yesterday I stumbled over charging the full price for a 2 1/2 hr session. My client said, “Charge me! Having this much time to work with you moved me so far along. I couldn’t do it in a shorter session.” I greatly prefer the longer sessions, because the depth work is so satisfying to me. This morning in Remembrance I received a new sense of appreciation for my challenges, even my health challenges, which I have generally resisted, resented and felt ashamed. I am still processing this, my mind can’t quite grasp it but my heart is drinking it in. I am so thirsty for God in my neediest places, especially where I feel weakest.
@Nancy- this is such a beautiful insight “I realized that my health, the limits it imposes on me and the attention I give to taking care of my own needs, is an essential element of the work I offer to clients. It
Thank you, Mark. I appreciate the sharing going on in this forum. It really helps deepen my connection to my work to have a place to share my doubts, struggles and “issues.” I always get movement in the stuck places when I take your questions and challenges to heart. The way you have integrated spiritual practice with worldly concerns is magical. It’s the bridge I have so needed.
I notice collapsing has been a huge issue for me, so I am looking forward to learning more about standing my my strength. A real hot button for me. Blessings of Light and Love
@Nancy- you are so welcome!
My challenge is always around belief and sustaining my enthusiasm for what I’m creating–not falling into self-doubt or a certain cynicism about what is even possible to accomplish and be. I’m holding down a job I have had for many years while also developing my coaching practice, teaching and continuing my life as a writer. I fluctuate between being wildly enthusiastic about the coaching work I’m engaged in, while at the same time wanting to (sometimes) throw the towel in because it’s just too damn hard to keep holding the old and the new. Getting into Remembrance and asking what challenge is waiting for me was clarifying & somewhat mystifying! I immediately saw a big stage with one of those thick red velvet curtains opening, and it was my stage. In delving into this, I see how stage is a place of stepping-out and claiming. The words “naming” and “claiming” also seemed spotlighted. I’ve been in this place of naming and claiming for a very long time, it seems. And that place of feeling myself stepping onto that stage was surprisingly joyous and right. I’m not sure yet if the stage is metaphorical or actual! But one of my action steps now is to create my own curriculum for what I have been offering for several years now–putting writing and somatics on the same page, creating the space for clients & workshop attendees to find and express their essential voices. It’s all leaning toward a bigger picture, and I need to embrace that.
@Renee so beautiful! Your own curriculum- though I don’t know you, something “clicks” when I read that. And have you read this: Why Less Passion is Better For Your Business. Just to help you avoid the wild swings of passion/disconnection.
thanks so much, Mark. Glad it “clicks”! Also for pointing me to the passion article & that great distinction between the heart’s longing for love & the ego’s longing for more clients. I will be dropping into my heart’s longing & asking how my biz can support that–so grateful for heart of biz!
Renee, I love the idea of somatic based writing. I paint that way — my teachers in graduate school could not get a grip on what I was doing and I did not have the words for it then. Somatic connection is part of why Remembrance is so powerful, and it is powerful for creativity, self-expression and emotional connection. Write the curriculum wants to be created through you. I really resonate with this — as it parallels the process I use in my work. It took me years to accept the validation from Spirit, because I wasn’t getting it from teachers or “the world.” I kept looking for an authority figure who was already doing what I was doing to validate me. Finally I “got it” that this is my bit. From there on, it’s all gotten better and better and better. I wonder if you are a visionary along with everything else? What you are creating has not yet been done. Somatic connection is the leading edge, leading us to sustainable living.
Nancy,
thank you so much for your words. It means a lot to me to know I have a painting “sister” out there inspired by the possibilities of body-centered creativity. I’ve been approaching this likely all my life–years of aikido training, poetry, teaching–and wanting integration of what I find in all of these disciplines. I find the body essential in my own work & I believe, as you put so well, that “it is powerful for creativity, self-expression and emotional connection.” Thank you for your clarity and encouragement. I’ve often looked for validation in powerful teachers, and I do “get” that it’s time (past time!) to look more deeply within AND make something strong to offer others. I’m excited by what you say of painting somatically. I’m going to look you up now! thanks again.
Sounds perfect, Renee!
Renee,
currently I do not have my art work up on my website. I am laying the groundwork to put up a whole new website where I offer my art, my writing and my healing work. It’s a huge integration…..after a lot of years of thought and prayer.
If you go on my EVENTS page of my website, you will find a link to a FB page where I posted images of drawings and paintings from a recent show. You can cut & paste the link into your browser if it doesn’t work by clicking on it.
I’d love to see a poem from you….if you want to share it. Perhaps we can exchange emails?
Nancy, Yes, let’s email each other. I’m at reneeclaire at cybermesa dot com
I’m not on Facebook. Wish you all good cheer and integration with your website. I understand–I did much the same on my own. You can check it out at http://www.reneegregorio.com & if you go to “books” you can open any and read some of my work. Thanks for asking. Let’s communicate via email!
all best,
Renee
There’s so many golden nuggets in this article that I can relate to on so many levels. Being self-employed can by lonely and it’s so easy to get depressed when you don’t have a steady stream of clients. Having a good support base helps A LOT. Thanks for the great article!
Reading this post help me gather courage and face the challenge I am currently facing. It’s time to step up and be brave!
I can totally relate to what you are saying here. For a long while I was in a mode of just keeping the business ticking over as my personal life was in crisis mode – my husband has had serious health issues over the last few years and a serious car accident last year.
We are blessed that in recent months he has returned to good health. So it felt the right time to start cranking the business up a notch or two. Yet I found it a real challenge. This was frustrating as I pondered where my buisness “head” had gone. The challenges felt huge especially as I was also in the process of changing my business model.
I realised I was going through a period of transition both in the business and my persoanl life. I process of readapting – from crisis mode to flourishing mode and any transition comes with challenges. Once I realised that and started to lean into the challenges, get to theiir route source and started to deal with them, the challenges started to ebb away. I am pleased to say that stepping up to the challenges has allowed me to come through that transition period and now be flowing and dancing with a business I love that fits around what is most important – health and my family.
So my learning was that challenges need to be embraced, because that is how we can get through them and create a new reality.