Your Future-Self May Have Other Plans

By Lisa Cherney

 

 

Have you ever been frustrated when things don’t go as planned?  You plan, prepare and have goals and then you get something else?  The current business model is that we plan ahead for years.  We do 5-year plans or we do business plans. We plan and plan and plan.  We put so much effort into our plans that we feel like we have to stick with the plan.  And, if we don’t plan, we feel like we should.  Now, I’m not saying that we shouldn’t plan.  All I’m saying is that we need to know it’s only a plan and that your Future Self has one of its own.  Be open to seeing what you feel like doing when you get there.

 

We wake up one morning and don’t feel like starting the day.  We need a break or a change in plans.  However, the day-to-day plan is that we get up, shower, eat and get to work.  Maybe we exercise.  But there is a plan in our day.  A plan set up by generations of “workers”.  It’s like the calendar.  Why do we take Saturday and Sunday off?  What if I want to go to the Beach on Friday and work Saturday?  When we have our own business we get to create the plan, the day-to-day plan and the long-term plan.  We also get to go with what feels right (or avoid what feels wrong) whenever we want.  Yes, I really mean, whenever we want.   Call the client and reschedule; they can wait one more day, really!

 

Watch For Signals

 

When I was a student, procrastination ruled my life.  Years later, when I started my business, I would have this fear that things wouldn’t get done.  I’d stress all weekend about something I had to do on Monday.  “Because you know, I used to procrastinate in college.”  [I say sarcastically.]  I now know it was because I didn’t like the schoolwork.  So, it was really a signal that I was not doing what I loved.  Now I am supposedly doing what I love, so why would I procrastinate?  I’ve come to realize that the only time I put something off is if I don’t like it (or have some other discomfort with the task).  I now have an early warning system within me that tells me when I need to delegate that task (like balancing my bank account), when I need to say “no,” or when I need to eliminate a service I’m offering.   I have a plan, but I keep my ears (and heart) open to the sign that something may need to change.

 

Dread is Handy

 

Have you ever felt dread when you are talking to a client and offering them a service you provide?  That means you really don’t want to do that service or there is something that feels overwhelming.  That is what led me to bringing on a partner to deliver the Marketing Services portion of our business, Conscious Marketing.  I liked having the website, brochure and public relations services, but didn’t like managing them.  When I was finally willing to let this part of the business go, my overall revenue doubled!  I had tons more energy for the stuff I loved, and the opening of my spirit allowed me to receive more flow.   This feeling of dread is very handy.  I now know it’s not just because “I’m a procrastinator,” irresponsible, or sloughing off.  It means the plan needs to change.

 

How do you label yourself or judge your actions that could really be considered signals instead?  Do you say, “I’m not good at sales,” or do you think, “I don’t really like sales, so I should hire someone to do that for me.”   Honor and own your talent and passion.  Know that someone, who it is their passion, can do the other things.  This includes focusing on only offering products and services you love, instead of just doing what you have always done.  Or what you “should” do.  Sometimes I meet an entrepreneur who has a list of services (or products they sell) that is a mile long.  They may even have multiple businesses. I always ask, “Do you like all of these equally?”  They will say, “No, but I’ve been doing X for years,” or they will talk about all the training and education they did to learn X.   Creating a business life you love is an evolution.  Hay, they say that the only thing that is constant is change.  So, go for it!

 

YOUR ASSIGNMENT: Look at your list of products or services.  If you had to eliminate half of them, which ones would go?  Now, really visualize your business with this new focus.  Does it feel more fun?  Do you feel lighter?  Are you more energized?  The energy you save is returned to you 10 fold.  You will be more motivated to build that business then the one you have now and the Universe will have clearer direction when it comes to supporting you.   You can do the same with projects or even your clients.  Imagine eliminating some and see how you feel.

 

So, the bottom line is to plan and be open to making changes.  Trust yourself.  When you have a plan, but begin to loose excitement for it. Or it seems like it’s going in another direction that feels more fun… let it!  When you are putting something off or feeling heavy about a task, know it may not be your passion.  It doesn’t just mean you are not good at it and should try harder.  It means, stop doing it or find someone who likes it.  And finally, look around you and ask yourself if you are equally passionate about all the products and services you provide.  Imagine the ideal scenario and begin to move toward it.  After all, it just means that your Future Self has other plans.