3 Keys to Unlocking Huge Potential

We recently completed our new Foundations3: Accelerating Growth program with a group of amazing folks.  It was really an incredible journey together.  (Maybe we’ll offer it again?)

I was teaching about Systems and one of the key things, which I must have repeated dozens of times, is something that I notice I also share repeatedly with clients.

The teaching, in its broader application, answers the question – how do I get started on anything new with minimal risk and maximum benefit?

Often in business, we’re faced with starting something new – we have no idea how to really begin, let alone how to make it work – and so often it’s in this place where many get stuck.  Maybe you’ve wanted to start a new kind of marketing, or hiring a virtual assistant, or venturing into offering online courses, etc.  How do you start?  Where do you begin?  AAACK!!!!!!

When facing situations like this, there are three key principles that you can lean into so that you set yourself up to unlock the greatest potential, with the least risk.

The three keys are:

1. Start simple.
2. Start slow.
3. Start affordable.

Those three might sound counterintuitive, or perhaps even counterproductive in today’s world where, as Mark discussed last week, we’re encouraged to “go big” all the time – and in all the icky ways.  You might also notice the push to go fast and the belief that “you get what you pay for” which often is translated into – if it’s expensive and does more stuff, it’s better.

Why, when you’re starting something new are starting simple, slow and affordable so critical?

Start Simple

When you don’t have skill doing or using something, complexity is your enemy.  Starting simple allows you to build familiarity, skill and mastery more quickly.

When you’re just learning something new, you don’t have the wisdom yet to understand exactly how you might want things to work down the road. Starting simple allows you to gain critical skills and experience on the fundamentals upon which you can then build more rapidly.

Start Slow

This can sometimes sound similar to Start Simple, but it carries a different essence.

We begin new things, not because we want to be beginners and perform basics, but because we have some vision about what we’ll be able to do with it!

This causes us to want to rush to mastery so we can do what we ultimately want, or so that we get the full effect that we most desire.  So, we rush things forward without taking our time to see if and how it fits with us and our business (and sometimes our clients).

Start Affordable

When you’re starting a new business, or implementing something new in your established business, it’s exciting to purchase a higher caliber or more robust thing to help your business grow.  However, when it’s something new to your business, you really have little idea how it might work (or not) and why.

If your business bursts into radical expansion and complexity, you can always scale up – and if that’s the case, you can hire support to help you. Usually, it’s best to start with something that’s truly, very affordable and that will meet your current need, and maybe a little more.

Don’t over-invest or stretch your budget until you know through experience that your business will need a certain type of support over the long term.

Making Simple, Slow & Affordable Work For You

Anything that you’re thinking about changing, implementing, starting, re-doing, creating, etc., I want to invite you to begin thinking about your approach through these three filters. In my experience, if at least two of the three are present – that reduces risk enough so that if it works it really works well, or even if it doesn’t work, it won’t hurt you or damage your business.

Take a minute to think about a situation where you were trying something new in your business and things have gone well or not so well.

Perhaps you can think of a time when you began a new something, tried it, and you totally knocked it out of the park. Was it something complex, fast and expensive?  Or, can you identify how you included slow, simple and/or affordable?  How did those three keys support things really working for you?

Maybe you can think of a time when you tried something and it totally didn’t work for you.  Did you start simple, slow and affordable? What was missing, and how did its absence impact how things went wrong?

I’d love to hear if/how you’ve seen these three keys support you in unlocking potential, and moving your business forward.  Or, how they might support you in something that you’re in the midst of starting right now!  I invite your comments below.

Please Share Your Thoughts – Getting Help In Your Business

Getting help in your business is one of the most difficult things business owners step into.

Because of that, we (the Heart of Business team) are exploring ways to help you get support in your business in a way that really works, is super accessible and takes some (a lot) of the complexity, fear and overwhelm away.  (Hmmm…. sounds like simple, slow and affordable!)  We’re just thinking about it – very early stages.

I wonder if you would mind answering a few questions about getting support which will help shape our thinking and ensure that if we decide to provide this kind of resource, it fits squarely with your true needs.

Will you take 4 minutes and answer a few questions?

>>>CLICK HERE TO RESPOND<<<

Thank you for taking the time to help us out.

Need In-depth Help?

You might be needing some in-depth training and support to really make your business work! I invite you to consider three things:

If you’re in start-up, or your income is painfully low, take a look at the Foundations1: Clients and Money program. It’s helping people heal their relationship with their business, understand what it takes to bring clients in and get paid, and significantly increase their revenue!

And it’s priced for someone in this situation. Take a look: Foundations1: Clients and Money.

If your business is inconsistent, some months are good, and some months not at all, then take a look at Foundations2: Expand Your Reach. You may be in a place where healing some deeper issues, like maybe a fear of being seen in the world, will allow you to move forward. Then you’ll be set to build some simple systems around growing your audience that will allow you to easily fill your schedule and your programs.

Is this for you?: Foundations2: Expand Your Reach.

Unsure what you need? Take our Readiness Assessment, and see where your business is.

Click here: Readiness Assessment.
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Heart of Business Community Update

As a community member, here’s quick access to resources and conversation!

Have you ever wondered why you can’t do your special skill for yourself? Mark has great suggestions for you and more in this month’s Business Q&A Recordings.

In our Facebook group yet?

In our Facebook group, here are some discussions happening right now:

• Needing guidance and suggestions on how to offer either packages or bundles of sessions? Stumped about payments and scheduling? Currently being discussed now by your fellow Community members – drop by and share what works for you!
• Needing support and suggestions on how to respond to a client requesting a quote for your services? Jump on over and check out what is being shared.

These are just 2 of the many discussions happening every day in our active, compassionate group! Don’t yet have access? Click here. 
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