The Five C’s of Powerful Entrepreneurship

The Lady Boss Lab

What are the 5 “C’s” of powerful entrepreneurship?

There are several principles I have discovered in my 26 years of coaching and business ownership that I have found foundational for success.

The first C is Calling
ring, ring…do you hear that?

Are you running a business because you think you have a marketable idea? Do you have a product or service that people are buying? Are you making money selling it?

All of this is fine, but entrepreneurship can be very challenging. What gets you through the difficult times?

If you are not connected to a calling bigger than what you do and what you sell, your business can feel like a ball and chain around your ankle. The excitement you once had begins to disappear unless what you are doing is grounded in something bigger than all of it.

A great book that helped me understand this topic is “The Infinite Game” by Simon Sinek. He describes that most of us create finite games that have an end.

So what do we do? We create a goal and accomplish it and then start over. You might say, well, what’s wrong with that? I would say that’s the modern rat race or hamster wheel. Accomplishing goals is great but can feel empty, especially when you are not reaching those finite goals.

An infinite goal is so big and so motivating that you cannot possibly achieve it. Huh?!?

Having an infinite goal gives you a purpose or calling with no end so that everything you do and every goal you set forwards that vision.

I would get so burned out trying to get new clients, launching and filling our quarterly planning summits, and getting bummed out after losing a client until I did the work to discover my calling. When I realized that my calling is people to experience who they truly are, there was no way to win that game, but everything I do to forward that vision creates inspiration and motivation so that even when things get really tough, that infinite goal or calling doesn’t stop working on me. It helps me pick myself up and continue because even when things are amazing and I am crushing my goals, that calling won’t run out!

If all you got was this and didn’t read any further, that could be worth a fortune! Let yourself think and brainstorm about what lights you up. When was the first time you felt so inspired by something? What about it inspired you? Your calling can evolve, but you will know it once you get it!

Erin

The second C is Coach
Find a coach!

All high performers have coaches. If Olympic athletes have coaches, doesn’t it make sense that anyone who is ambitious and up to big goals has a coach?

“A coach is someone who can see something that you can’t see, not someone else who is necessarily better than you.” –Tony Robbins

Having a coach doesn’t mean you’re defective; it actually means you are up to having Olympic-quality performance and results in your business.

“You cannot solve problems with the same thinking that created them.” – Albert Einstein

A coach can challenge your views of how you have done things in the past and shift your approach in a way that helps you discover new opportunities and pathways for achieving your goals.

As a coach, I have had many coaches throughout my career, and it has always been a worthy investment. Left to our own devices, we can find ourselves overwhelmed, distracted, and not taking action where it matters most. Having a coach creates accountability and forces you to step beyond what you will do on your own.

Talk to people and see whom you know that works with a coach. Then, talk to a few coaches and find someone that feels like a good fit. 

I sure would love to talk to you!

The third C is Community

Did you know the probability of reaching your goals increases by up to 80% when you write them down and have shared your specific goals with another person? Why do you think that is?

One of the reasons that percentage goes up is because when you write down your goals, you are telling your brain that you have decided to commit to that goal. When you tell someone else the specific goal, you further reinforce that goal in your brain. You have now created accountability, which will have you more committed to your daily actions to achieve the specific result.

Another critical aspect of a community is surrounding yourself with people who are just like you. When you surround yourself with like-minded business owners who have ambitious goals and understand what it takes to build a business, you will have a productive sounding board to help you further your business

growth. But if you don’t have an intentional community to support you, you will get terrible advice from people (probably employees) who don’t have a clue about what you are dealing with.

You must surround yourself with other lady bosses who will support, encourage and be willing to challenge you. Sometimes we struggle in business, and we start believing that something is wrong with us or our business. In a community, you realize that not only is there nothing wrong with you, but you are just like other lady bosses and are not defective. You are just like everyone else with very similar challenges, and that can provide confidence and clarity.

The fourth C is Curiosity

The most powerful definition of the word Curiosity is from Brene Brown’s book, Atlas of the Heart.

Brene Brown defines Curiosity as “Recognizing a gap in our knowledge about something that interested us and becoming emotionally and cognitively invested in closing that gap through exploration and learning.

Choosing to be curious is choosing to be vulnerable because it requires us to surrender to uncertainty. We have to ask questions, admit to not knowing, risk being told that we shouldn’t be asking, and sometimes, make discoveries that lead to discomfort.”

Curiosity creates opportunities that lead to courage.

And the fifth C is Courage

The textbook definition of courage is “the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.”

I agree with the first part of this definition, but I don’t believe that courage comes without fear. Instead, I think that courage takes place in the face of fear.

Consider that we wait for fear to disappear before we take action. And how many times have you not taken action because you were afraid-even if the fear wasn’t logical?

I recently actively took on being courageous whenever I felt fear or anxiety about anything. It was so amazing how many times I took action even when I felt all the feels, and once I did it, EVERY TIME, I was so surprised by how easy it was. I almost felt embarrassed that I was letting my fear get in the way.

Consider this great news: if courage was taking action, no matter how much fear you felt, nothing could stop you. The experience of fear may or may not disappear and usually doesn’t! So you can wait a lifetime for fear to go away or BE courageous and take action.

Start by making it a fun experiment. Notice how often you think about taking action and what emotions stop you. Once you start taking action and pushing through that fear or discomfort, you will build a kind of confidence you can’t manufacture any other way. You will begin to become your own superhero and discover and experience who you truly are, which is my wish for you!

Are you ready to make your dreams come true?
Book a Strategy Call with Erin today!

Love What You Do!

Lady Boss Lab

In a world where there is so much to do, so many available opportunities, and unlimited potential-we are more burned out and overworked than we’ve ever been!

In a private survey of over 4,000 professionals, the results show that 74% of people do not feel that they are maximizing their professional potential. Source: Procrastinate on Purpose by Rory Vaden.

There is overwhelming pressure in society and the world of business that makes us think we should be more productive. We live in a very fast-paced, high-tech, on-demand world. So, of course, the forcefield of business would pull for more, faster, better, now! 

But if you think about it and tell the truth, how could we possibly do more, faster, better, now (which is one BIG constantly moving flow of to-dos) in a fixed 24 hours every day?

Lady Boss Lab

It’s like turning on the faucet and filling a glass with water, thinking you can catch all the water in the cup and keep the water running. 

IT’S PHYSICALLY IMPOSSIBLE!! 

So why do we even try to tackle so many things each day? You might say, “Well, I’ll just get more efficient!” My response would be, “Ok, let me know how that goes.” Rory Vaden says, “How does it feel to know that all we are is a bunch of juggling hamsters sprinting towards an inevitable crash landing?”

What if our feelings that we aren’t living up to our full potential, isn’t because we aren’t doing enough. Consider it’s because we are doing too much that is not aligned with who we are and what we care about. 

Here are some questions to consider and take inventory of what you do each day. 

  • What do you need to stop doing that no longer serves you?
  • What is part of your regular routine that goes against your personal values?
  • Are you taking on things out of obligation?
  • Do you have a hard time saying no and pleasing others?
  • Maybe you are a closet perfectionist, and you think you are the only one who can do the job or task? 
  • What can you delegate?
  • Are you the hamster on your way to the inevitable crash because you don’t take the time to set up systems and automate things now to give yourself more time in the future?
  • Then the next question is, What the heck do you care about? Why this business? Why did you start this business in the first place?
Lady Boss Lab

Then from that place, and from that place only, look at what there is to do to fulfill your passion or vision. 

The actions to take will start to become more apparent, but you must stay connected to the reason you started your business in the first place. I promise it wasn’t to be an overwhelmed person on a hamster wheel!! 

Fall back in love with your business by doing less! Slow down, do the things that matter with purpose and intention. The satisfaction and joy you will feel will radiate. You will become more productive, and in my experience, you’ll probably get more business!!!

Imagine that!!

Stop trying to get more done in the fixed number of hours you have in the day!

Curious if The Lady Boss Lab is for you? Let’s talk about how we can help you formulate goals, achievements, and accountability to help grow your business.

What is a coach?

Mind Masters in You

I believe that the term “coach” is overused in the realm of Life and Business Coaching. In fact, if you know me, you know I can’t stand the word coach. But it’s the label that people put on what I do to understand it.  And don’t get me wrong, I have many coaches!

A coach can tell you what to do and give you their formula, but that won’t necessarily make any difference for you. We are bombarded with self-help and how-tos EVERYWHERE.

When you Google “business success for women entrepreneurs,” there are 177 MILLION search results!!!

Why play that game? We don’t need more “how-tos”! Instead, business owners need to develop the skill and discipline for thinking, creating, experimenting, testing, listening, learning, and adjusting to discover your unique formulas.

Now, this takes time! But it compounds into big results when you give yourself the time to make slow and steady progress (as we like to say, “be the tortoise”). AND it’s your unique formula that cannot be duplicated or taught! Wow, what a competitive advantage to have in your business!

“We overestimate what we can accomplish in the short term and underestimate what we can accomplish in the long term.” ~ Jeff Willmore

So stop trying to get fast results or find the secret formula everyone is trying to sell you! Instead, put yourself in an environment that supports you in innovative thinking, producing increased, real results.

“What gets measured gets better.”

Are you ready to develop the skill and discipline for thinking, creating, experimenting, testing, listening, learning, and adjusting to discover your unique business formulas?

Schedule a discovery call with Erin today!

Why Create Deliberate Practices for You and Your Business?

Mind Masters in You

For the last 2 1/2+ years, I have been actively studying and implementing the concept of deliberate practice into my business and some areas of my personal life.

Deliberate practices can be defined as a unique action that is purposeful and systematic. This intentional practice focuses on tasks beyond your current level of competence and comfort. It isn’t about setting goals. Deliberate practices are something that you create and go after to consciously elevate a skill and performance.

After leading dozens of Business Strategy Sessions with entrepreneurs, I realized that many aspects of The Lady Boss Lab are implementing deliberate practices, and our quarterly summits are one of them!!

A significant component to creating a deliberate practice is measuring and tracking. Tracking the outcome of your practice allows you to actually see the progress instead of feeling how things are going. We can then implement the information to shift and fine-tune the approach.

An example of deliberate practices can be compared to how professional athletes train. They create routine practices, record themselves, and review the videos to see where they need to shift.

Do you have a deliberate practice? Do you find yourself waiting to feel motivated before taking action? Do you get overwhelmed with how to elevate your performance?

The Lady Boss Lab is where you will bring deliberate practice to your performance, business, and personal life.

Mind Masters in You

“When I started my business 14 years ago, I had clients. But I wish I would have had The Lady Boss Lab as a part of my business back then! The Lady Boss Lab has helped me create a foundation for my business that has helped to significantly reduce my anxiety and overwhelm and keeps me grounded in why I love the business I am in.” – Stephanie M., Owner

Back to School! Are you ready lady bosses?

mind masters

Any moms out there anticipating kids going back to school? Maybe you are already a couple of weeks into the school year! So for ladybosses with kids in school, this might be a double whammy for you. But for any small business owner, you can’t separate the human being from the business. At least most people can’t.

When life happens, you need a support structure in place so that you don’t let the business die when all of your attention is drawn in a different direction. 

It’s times like these when you MUST have a team of people to support you and help you think of ways to have it all work. 

What if you didn’t have to turn away from your business to deal with the personal struggles? And you might think I’m crazy or even insensitive for saying this, but if we turned away from business when any personal crisis happened, you wouldn’t likely survive, unless you had a team in place.

I challenge you to pour into yourself by finding a team or a champion like me to support you during the toughest times because you deserve to have the kind of success you work so hard to achieve. 

Find out how The Lady Boss Lab can help propel your business forward even in the midst of any challenge by scheduling a free discovery call with Erin.