Taking a little break from our series on Finding Your Why. We will finish that up next week.
Moving On Up (to the east side?)
After 20 years in the building and real estate worlds… people ask what I’m doing now that those are no longer my full-time occupations… a normal question in the course of any conversation.
To be honest, I’ve never liked labeling myself. I talk about that at length in a recent podcast interview with author Christopher Veal. Pop by and check it out if you have time.
For instance, my business cards for every company I’ve owned have never said “CEO” or “President”, just my name and contact info.
So while I’m technically a full-time business coach, I’m still not comfortable with the label.
It’s certainly not all I do, just like building and real estate aren’t all I’ve done.
What I have done, however, formally for the last couple of years and informally for the last 20… is help people get out of their own way.
It’s the best way to describe this new journey I’m on…and my “superpower,” as it were.
Looking back on my 20’s and 30’s, it all becomes more clear.
A few times a month for the last two decades… someone will reach out, sometimes a friend or a subcontractor or vendor…sometimes a complete stranger who happened by the blog….
“Can I buy you a beer and pick your brain for a minute?”…
“Could you hop on a call tomorrow? I want to run something by you.”….
Why me?
I couldn’t tell you, to be honest… but I have ideas.
I take risks. I’ve reaped rewards. I’ve built things, had them destroyed, and built them again. If you follow me on the socials, you’d see I’ve lived a full and varied life, traveled to the far ends of the earth, had all the toys, and more. I’ve been beaten and bruised and always gotten back up. I’ve never wavered from my values and the idea that I could build any life I wanted if I just identified what that was.
But I don’t think that’s the only reason.
More than a few people have called me fearless… a moniker I gladly accept. Since I was young, I have never been afraid to take chances, try something new… never afraid to fail…whether it’s in business, relationships, or a new hobby. There is only one way to learn… and that’s to do.
Excuses, excuses.
When people are asked why they don’t do something, there are usually two answers.
Most cite money… many cite time, and some cite kids (which is also time, for those keeping score at home).
Looking from the outside and having spent the last couple of years on hundreds of hours of coaching calls…it’s a struggle not to call these excuses. It’s a struggle not to be frustrated, knowing what all of us are capable of…ALL OF US…if we drop the excuse-making protection mechanisms that have been drilled into us since birth…
Knowing that if they really, really, REALLY wanted it… it would happen.
If we could just get out of our own way…it would happen.
If we would realize that it’s either a fear of failure or a fear of success (is this all there is?), that keeps people from ever starting in the first place…. It would happen.
But… but…. But…..
A mentor of mine used to say people who use the word but usually have a big one… yikes!
With a big enough why… any how is possible.
Better Questions – Better Answers
If I’ve learned anything in my short 41 years… it’s that better questions lead to better answers… and better answers lead to a better life… without exception.
Instead of:
– “Why me?”
– “Why can’t I do this?”
– “Why is life unfair?”
What would happen if we replaced those with:
– “Who, in my circumstance, has done this before?”
– “What did they do that I’m not doing?”
– “Why do I really want this?”
– “Who can help me get there?”
– “If I eliminated all the common excuses, what is really stopping me?”
Better questions. Better answers.
Has everyone who’s had a dream, taken a risk, pursued a passion, wanted to start a business, or wanted to take any part of their life to the next level… been childless with no bills, piles of disposable income and an endless support system? I believe you know the answer.
Give me your WHY… or better yet, let’s explore it together…and I’ll help you get out of your own way.
See you on the journey.
PS – I hope you sang the first section title in your head like I did… if you didn’t – google it. 😉
PPS – Sign up below and I’ll personally hand-deliver new posts right to your inbox…isn’t that neat?
Thanks for coming by.
Rodric
