One of the most common problems I encounter when helping small business owners become more successful is with their leadership development and sales confidence.

Most people running a business begin with the skills they already have. And follow a leadership and sales style based upon past experience (or inexperience) or perhaps what they have observed and learned from others.

Eventually they discover they might not know the most effective ways of handling the variety of issues related to leading and running a successful business. This includes everything from managing employees and marketing their company to the face to face interactions with customers.

You can take classes on Management 101 or Sales 101 and learn tremendous leadership skills. However the sleeping giant I found with most business owners in the area of leadership development and sales competence is anxiety. Yes, that’s right we often bump up against our own discomfort when leading others toward our company vision and agenda.

Overcoming Leadership Anxiety

Now whether or not you experience true anxiety or not, we have found a direct correlation between leadership effectiveness and self-confidence, even if you have the normal skills for managing people. In fact, this the hidden source of most communication failure.

This discomfort can be experienced as everything from a mild sense of wanting to avoid an issue, to extreme anxiety. Notice what comes up for you when you think about confronting a sensitive issue. Can you lead with complete confidence? And I am not talking about merely acting confident. I am talking about feeling confident at your core—at the cellular DNA level.

Many people don’t realize that a hidden form of low self esteem is at the root of many patterns such as anxiety, procrastination, perfectionism, fear when speaking or doing a sales presentation, asking for a loan from a bank and so on. In fact there are numerous studies that show over 85% of all people (including business owners) live with some sort of self-esteem deficit.

I worked with a business owner, “Bob” who experienced extreme anxiety when needing to manage his team and keeping them accountable to following through on commitments. Bob’s pattern was “Every time I think about telling my team what needs to be done, I feel anxious and second guess my decisions or method. And even though I’m clear in my mind, I avoid it.”

There were 16 beliefs we found related to Bob’s pattern. The beliefs hidden in his subconscious included ones such as:

• I don’t matter
• What I have to say doesn’t matter
• People don’t care what I have to say
• I’m powerless
• My needs don’t matter

These are the types of hidden beliefs that hold an unwanted pattern in place. That is, until you learn how to uncover and release them. Can you see now where this man’s anxiety and indecision came from? And can you see the connection between the beliefs and the unwanted pattern?

If you have beliefs such as these running in your subconscious mind, they can render you essentially ineffective in getting the leadership results you want, such as achieving full accountability from your team. Once all the beliefs were cleared away, Bob was freed from second guessing himself that was fueled by the anxiety.

Gaining Confidence

Even when you recognize a confidence deficit in some area of your life, gaining confidence can feel like a mountain to climb unless you have the right tools.

That is where our PatternBusters© process comes in. It is the most powerful process we have learned in our 30 years of study and work with personal and business growth to effectively overcoming self-defeating patterns, such as procrastination, sales anxiety, low confidence, fear of failure and so on.

Working with business owners, there are 3 kinds of confidence we work with, self confidence, leadership confidence and sales confidence.

I define confidence as a sense of certainty—certainty about your value, your leadership, your choices, your relationships, and your management style.

All of this contributes to high emotional intelligence—which is the ability to maintain internal stability when dealing with tough challenges.

And low self esteem is one of the biggest blocks to enjoying this inner peace and even your outer fulfillment…no matter your leadership status.

Building Robust Confidence

It doesn’t have to take long to clear away the blocks to success in your leadership development. In fact, in most cases it takes only about 90 days. It is amazing how in a matter of a few weeks working with the right processes, you are suddenly free from a pattern that has plagued you for years. Imagine what your leadership could be like with your confidence operating at full speed.

• Confidence in your leadership
• Confidence in your sales
• Confidence in your core self

The first steps in building robust confidence are to become aware of any discomfort you may have about your leadership. Then notice what types of situations trigger the anxiety or discomfort, such as whenever you have a different opinion or a new suggestion, or when your team is not buying in fully to your instructions. Notice at what point you begin to feel anxious or uncomfortable.

Next, search for hidden beliefs that may contribute to your discomfort. Look for beliefs such as “I am not important” or “What I have to say is not important” and so on. There are more steps to this process included in my November article titled Overcoming Low Self Esteem, How to Gain Confidence.

Yet, to completely clear the pattern and dissolve it for good, you will likely need  the help of a trained facilitator who can help you uncover and eliminate all of the beliefs. But just these firststeps are powerful all on their own, and will help you in moving forward.

So when thinking about your next steps in your leadership develpment, indeed you need to learn the skills of leadership and sales. Just be sure to clear away the unwanted pattern(s) so you can lead with both skill and confidence.♥

Desirée Watson is a transformational success coach and trainer who specializes in helping people clear away patterns they wish they didn’t have. To learn more about how Desirée can help you go to your next level of success go to DesireeWatson.com/Patternbusters.

After many years of yoga study and practice, there is much I could write about the benefits of yoga.

Yet, right now I’m thinking of an old friend of mine, John Friend, founder of Anusara Yoga. And I want to focus on a particular yoga benefit that took me by surprise. It’s connected to John Friend and his Anusara Yoga.

People come to yoga for many reasons, health benefits, finding inner peace and expanding their spiritual growth.

For me yoga has much to do with finding my place in life and the work I now do for other people.

Anusara Yoga and John Friend

John Friend in Puna, India 1989

For many years, I’d been hearing about Anusara, but had never taken a class.

I first met John Friend in 1987 long before Anusara Yoga. This was in California where I was attending two-year yoga teacher training at the Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco.

John was visiting the city and had come there to study for a brief period. He and I would sometimes hang out together and chat between classes. And I could tell from his demeanor that he was on a mission.
 

Our paths crossed again in Boston at the 1987 Iyengar Yoga Convention and again in 1990 in San Diego.

Yoga Class with Iyengars Puna, India 1989

In between that time in 1989, John and I had the good fortune to attend a 3-week yoga intensive together with BKS Iyengar and his daughter Geeta Iyengar in Puna, India.

There were 30 of us yogis who traveled together as a group led by Mary Dunn. Mary was the fearless mother of yoga who kept us all focused during a rather arduous trek through one mishap after another, all the way to Puna. That’s another story altogether, and so I’ll save it for another post.

After that, John and I connected a couple of more times, and then lost touch as often happens when living far away from someone.

Now, here it is some 20 years later, and I decided to try one of John’s Anusara Yoga style classes lead by Jim Bernaert here on the Big Island of Hawaii.

At first I found it really hard. Yet something about it kept me coming back each week, and pretty soon I was getting stronger.

Why Am I Writing About Anusara Yoga?

Mark with John and Yoga Buddies Puna, India 1989

You may be wondering by now why I’m writing all this about John Friend and Anusara yoga. What does this have to do with the benefits of yoga?

And what is this mysterious yoga benefit that took me by surprise?

You see, I’m in the business of transformational coaching and training. Before that I was a building contractor, and had also tried many different businesses looking to find my place in life. I also taught yoga for many years, but never to make a living.

Yet something deeper (in addition to the normal the benefits of yoga) has kept my interest alive. For one thing, I’ve been attracted to the zeal and passion witnessed in many yoga teachers, and I’ve wanted that passion for myself.

For a long time I was focused on making money with not as much concern for what I would love to do. Yet I paid the price of feeling unfulfilled. It had not yet occurred to me that I could have both, money and fulfillment.

Eventually, I found that passion. Ironically, that is the work I now do for others. My wife Desirée and I help people from all over the world discover what they’re here to do and how to make money doing it. And we help people clear away the blocks to success that they wish they didn’t have.

I absolutely adore the subject of living with purpose and passion. And when I see someone who exudes that vibration, something primary inside of me is always stirred.

And this is what I see in John Friend and Anusara Yoga—and one of the many reasons I believe Anusara has become so popular.

BKS Iyengar and Mark Watson Puna, India 1989

I observed this also in BKS Iyengar and in many of his other teachers. And “that”—the passion of my teachers—as much as any other factor has kept me coming back to yoga all these years. I love being in the presence of people who love what they do.

Another benefit I love about yoga is the community that surrounds it. I have always found warm, welcoming friendly people in the world of yoga. I love hanging out with yoga people.
 

The Yoga of Congruence

I find it fortuitous that John Friend has reappeared in my life during this time. Only now it is through work he’s created.

There are many parallels in the path John has taken with Anusara yoga and the one I have taken.

After attending regular Anusara classes for all of the last year, I’ve become increasingly enamored with all that John has brought to the world of yoga.

Anusara has heart, it has song, it has style, and yet you still get that scrumptious precision of alignment in the poses. You work hard, but not too much—there is balance, and all of this in a context of fun, and grace—yes that ever-present sense of grace, the blessing of yoga. Anusara means flowing with grace, and indeed it does.

In August, 2009 I came upon John Friend’s blog. And he talked about his vision of what is now become Anusara Yoga. And what I’ve noticed most is the element of congruence John has found with his work in the world. But it wasn’t always that way. John worked hard for a long time developing his skill.

Congruence is an important theme for me right now. Not just because of the work I do, but reading about John’s reflections and his vision made me painfully aware of the places I had lost congruence in my own life.

Yoga helps you become congruent with yourself, and the more I’ve connected with Anusara, the more congruent I’ve become.

My relationship with yoga runs deep, I have trained extensively. Yet I don’t want to pretend to be on the same parallel as John Friend when it comes to traditional forms of yoga. I’m not even close.

What I want to share with you are the parallels between our stages of growth, being congruent and our business development.

And more importantly, what are the parallels that you can draw for yourself from reading this article?

Congruence is about taking Yoga beyond the mat into your life and what you want to create for yourself.

So it doesn’t stop there, I’m on a mission as well.

The Yoga of Success

Desirée and I have created a dynamic online training program called “The Codes of Destiny, Discover What You’re Here to Do, and How to Make Money Doing It.”

Prior to this, we had gone through many renditions on the theme as we were developing our training materials.

Working with marketers we developed our branding as Wealth Inside Out®, which we love. It fits. It’s like the yoga of success. The only problem was that we also had lost ourselves in the process of learning how to market our work.

We had focused on a niche of people going from seminar to seminar on how to make more money. We call this the “wealth circuit” yet mostly what we found was a lot of hype and nonsense.

Sure, there are many gems to be found in some of those programs, if you’re willing to wade through an ocean of sharks who really don’t have your best interests at heart.

Now we were at a new crossroads.

A Pivotal Yoga Encounter

Reading John Friend’s vision stirred me deeply because Desirée and I were now facing that same pivotal encounter. As John talked about his radical shift from the practice of yoga through willpower to one of opening to Grace, I new that is where we had gotten off course.

It was one of those piercing moments of awareness.

Desirée and I had become so focused on building our business through willpower that the element of grace had quietly slipped away. What’s interesting is that a lot of our money had slipped away as well. (We had a steep learning curve to overcome in sales and marketing.)

Now it was time for a course correction—much like adjusting one’s alignment in a yoga pose.

Prior to Anusara, John had been teaching other yoga styles for many years. And then he reached a new plateau. And this very same process was now activated for Desirée and me. We hit a new plateau in our direction… and though we learned a lot of valuable lessons from our many teachers, we’ve gone on to forge our own course.

And so, I relate deeply to this dynamic of recalibration and congruence. And this is why I’ve made a new connection with John even though we’ve not talked in years.

So even though Desirée and I had lost our way for a bit, our vision was very much alive and ripe for expression.

Yoga is about the universal principles of alignment, and that is what we teach as well. How to get aligned with yourself and what you do for a living. What does it mean for you to be congruent?

John Friend learned tremendous lessons from his many teachers of yoga. And now he was looking to find his own grounding and style. He was no longer aligned completely with some of the philosophy and methods he’d learned.

Yet all of this was part of John’s natural recalibration before coming fully into his own. John studied with the best of the best, then he made it even better and put his own stamp on it.

It was this vital inner process that became a springboard for Anusara Yoga and all that it has now become.

Desirée and I started over too. We learned from best of the best, crystallized our vision and placed our stamp.

And that is the very process we teach people how to activate in themselves.

Much like John did in 1997, we’ve set out to bring our greatest gifts and talents to those who want to take the next steps in their growth and in their business or profession.

The Codes of Destiny is not an easy program because you must be ready to look deeper inside, and perhaps make some changes in your life. But the payoff is huge once you learn how to activate your true calling.

Yet most people get stuck when trying to do that for themselves, until they get the right tools and training.

We teach you how to build a profitable business based on your passions.

So, to get the true benefits of yoga in relation to your unique place in life, you have to take yoga off the mat. You have to be willing to take that next vital step. What are you here to do? And how will you make it happen?

Thank you John Friend for Anusara Yoga, and the gifts you bring to life. And thank you to Jim and Ruthie Bernaert for sharing your precious wisdom and gifts each week. And to each of you for sparking these hidden benefits of yoga—the benefits of reconnecting with my vision and being congruent.

Are you ready for congruence in your life?

Are you ready to activate your vision and place your stamp?•

To learn more about the Codes of Destiny you can click the link, or just enter your first name and email address below to begin Part 1 free.

This question Do you believe in destiny has been around for a long time, ever since the search for meaning began.

What matters is how you use the question.

As humans, we naturally look for ways to make sense of our lives and the events that occur. And the question of destiny is one that most people ponder at one time or another in their lives.

When Destiny Rises

You may have heard of Abraham Maslow and his infamous “Hierarchy of Needs” that takes you from Survival… into Security… then into Love & Belonging… to Esteem & Confidence… and finally into Actualization of the Self.

And what this shows is that once a person’s basic needs are reasonably handled, this question “Do you believe in destiny?” rises to the surface.

And now during these times of economic uncertainty, many people have returned focus to their basic survival and security.

And yet this has also sparked a new renaissance in the search for meaning—and again this question Do you believe in destiny?

The Meaning of Destiny

Before exploring the belief in destiny, let’s explore some common meanings.

Many people believe that destiny is a predetermined course of events as if it is already fixed in the natural order of the cosmos.

Some say you create your destiny, others say it is pre-encoded. Some say events are random, others say you make it all happen.

In spiritual terms, it is a sacred path fated by the Divine.

I like to think of destiny as an irresistible inner power or energy that one is compelled to follow.

Just like every living organism grows according to its own unique blueprint, there is an interior map that compels us as humans toward our destiny.

Exploring Your Belief in Destiny

When asking the question, Do you believe in destiny, most people are looking for something deeper. This often occurs when unplanned events happen that we can’t yet make yet sense of.

Maybe you’re at a crossroads in your business or personal life. Some event in you’re your life occurred that has sparked a new set of questions. Or perhaps you’ve reached a place of stagnation, where you know it’s clearly time for a change.

You’re not alone.

Many people during this time of economic uncertainty are looking to find something more. People who are used to having material stability are having to reach deeper to find inner stability.

And so there arises the question Do you believe in destiny?

How Is Destiny Useful?

Whether you believe in destiny as a predetermined course of events or as a guiding affect in your life, what matters is being clear how it works in your life.

How can you answer this question so it leads you toward a fulfilled life?

All of us want to feel like we’re are on track with what we’re meant to be doing regardless of our current plight, or at least feel connected to that eternal sense of meaning and purpose.

And once you have activated this spark of divine connectedness, you can never return to the perspective of mere survival and security. For even when you’re having difficulty, you will naturally focus on how the circumstance is moving you forward.

So, destiny is about the choices we make. We cannot always control the events in our lives, but we can choose where to place our focus.

We can choose to follow the inner path that compels us to grow and expand our awareness, and our happiness.

So in this exploration Do you believe in destiny? don’t stop short with questions like Did this just happen to me? Or did I create it? Or is it part of some greater plan?

Ask yourself, “What is this about in my life, and how can I use this as an opportunity to grow?”

Sometimes unplanned events in our lives are about learning how to surrender, others times we need to toughen up and make something else happen.

So the question of destiny is about taking responsibility for our lives and making choices that support our inner stability.

How can you get in sync with yourself at the most fundamental level?

Do you believe in destiny?

Here we are once more at the place where we started. And again what matters is how you use the question. What is your motive?

Are you simply looking to solve a problem in your life or are you ready to activate a calling—what you feel to be your destiny?

The questions we find most often from our codes of destiny students are What am I here to do? And how can I make money doing it?

That’s really the conversation that’s going on.

And so maybe it’s both. You’re looking to solve a problem in your life and to get in sync with yourself, regardless of the economy.

So consider what you’re really asking.

When you say Do you believe in destiny? what do you really want to know?

Overcoming low self esteem may seem like a problem “other” people have, or that children may deal with. And if you’re beyond the age of 35, surely (the thinking goes) you should have your self-esteem handled.

However, studies show that over 85% of all adults have at least some difficulty with confidence. And many people don’t realize that a hidden form of low self esteem is at the root of many patterns such as anxiety, procrastination, perfectionism or fear when speaking in front of a group.

Even when you recognize a self-esteem deficit in some area of your life, gaining confidence can feel like a mountain to climb unless you have the right tools.

Regardless of where you are regarding your self-esteem, all of us want to know how to gain confidence in the areas we don’t yet feel it.

What is Confidence?

In our PatternBusters® coaching and in our training programs there are 3 kinds of confidence we work with, self confidence, confidence in your direction and financial confidence.

I define confidence as a sense of certainty—certainty about your value, your abilities, your direction, your choices, your relationships, your finances and then certainty in your business or profession.

Healthy self esteem contributes to high emotional intelligence—which is the ability to maintain internal stability when dealing with tough challenges.

And low self esteem is one of the biggest blocks to enjoying this inner peace and even your outer fulfillment…no matter your direction or financial status.

Is Having Confidence Normal?

Today I want to address a particular element of confidence. Because having a healthy and vibrant self esteem is what allows us to move forward and tackle any circumstance in our lives with confidence.

When “Jane” first came to me for coaching she was terrified of public speaking. This fear came up not only when she was speaking in front of a group of people, but also when mingling at a party or in casual social settings.

Jane did not realize that her hand-sweating and throat-constricting tremors, whenever standing to speak in front of a group, were connected to a hidden form of low self esteem.

During our first session Jane asked me, “isn’t just about every one afraid to speak in front of a group? I have read studies that show people would rather die than stand in front of a group to speak.” Jane believed, like many people do, that public speaking was naturally scary. And she has since discovered that this is simply not true.

Whenever there’s a set of beliefs that many people share, such as fear of public speaking or even discomfort in a group of people, it can seem like a “fact” that you “should” be afraid—like it is normal.

Well, what if it isn’t “normal?”

What if your fear is caused by something as simple as what you interpret, and it is what you believe that makes you feel so uncomfortable?

When you become aware of an emotional or behavior pattern that inhibits you, holds you back or sabotages your goals, you can feel stuck with it—especially if it has been with you along time. I can tell you with confidence that feeling stuck is just a feeling, and it is not based in truth.

Overcoming Low Self Esteem

Studies show that self-esteem beliefs are formed by age 7. And because children are dependent upon their parents or other caregivers for survival, they tend to take personally everything their parents say and do.

Cognitively, a child hasn’t yet developed the ability to interpret Mom’s or Dad’s behavior other than it being all about the child. So when a parent is angry, critical or impatient, a child will instinctually respond with fear.

So when Mom gets mad or yells at her child, often the child’s first thought is “there must be something wrong with me.” Instead of “oh Mom is feeling angry right now, but she still loves me.”

Children are very sensitive to the emotions, tone of voice and of course the physical expressions and behavior of their parents.

Here is a simple illustration of how a child will form a self-esteem belief: Little 5-year-old Mary rushes into the living room while her dad is watching T.V. and says, “Hey Dad, can I show you….” Dad interrupts and exclaims loudly and angrily: “I’m BUSY!!!” Mary feels hurt and frightened and thinks, “I’m not important”, then while Dad keeps watching TV ….Mary keeps feeling, “I’m not important.”

Keep in mind, Dad would have to behave this way as a general pattern over time for the child to adopt the belief that she wasn’t important. Single incidents usually don’t create a negative self-esteem belief, unless it is a traumatic event.

So any unwanted pattern that gets formed later such as fear of speaking in public is not the result of anything their parents did, but, instead, is the result of their interpretation of what their parents did.

Children inherently want attention, affection, and acknowledgment, and conversely parents want children to be quiet, do as they are told, to be neat, and to essentially behave like adults.

Many parents simply have unrealistic expectations about what young children need and what they are capable of.

How to Gain Confidence

Imagine that I’m working with you and we uncover the following hidden beliefs:

I’m not good enough
I’m not important
I don’t have what it takes
Mistakes are bad
If I make a mistake I will be rejected.
I am not capable

Logically you may know those statements are not true, but when you say them to yourself out loud, they may feel true on some level. You may even feel a little embarrassed when saying them.

Can you see how hard it would be to stand up in front of a group and be seen and heard if you had those hidden beliefs going on in the background.

So how did Jane gain the confidence to start her career as a professional speaker? She eliminated all of the beliefs related to being seen and heard that she had formed during childhood. And she invested her time and resources in more training so she could feel confident both inside and out.

Here are 5 simple steps you can take right now toward overcoming low self-esteem:

Step 1: Notice what feelings come up whenever you are triggered emotionally. (Sad, angry, frustrated, afraid, anxious, guilty).

Step 2: Re-look at the triggering event. Remember what you thought about the person or people involved, and what you made their behavior mean.

For example, “Julie’s” Mother-in-Law had recently passed away. Then after having a hair cut by a man who also knew Julie’s husband, the hairstylist said, “Tell your husband I send my condolences about his mother.” Julie suddenly felt very angry.

When she traced back her thoughts, she realized that she had interpreted the stylist’s statement as an insult because he did not acknowledge Julie by giving her condolences as well. She felt snubbed.

Working together we found several other ways to interpret this:

a) It wasn’t that the stylist was “snubbing” her. He was instead being kind to offer his condolences to her husband, and just did not think at the time to offer them to her as well.

b) It wasn’t that he snubbed her, it was that he was just nervous cutting her hair since she was a new client, and just didn’t think to offer condolences to Julie at the time.

c) Maybe he was not close to his own mother-in-law, but he related to losing a mother as a big event, so he just didn’t think to offer condolences to Julie.

d) Maybe the stylist felt awkward about death, yet felt like he should say something to Julie. So he said what he thought would be appreciated by Julie’s husband about the loss of his mother.

So now, you can see there are many ways to interpret the very same event.

Step 3: Recognize how we are constantly interpreting events and judging other people’s behavior. So whenever you find yourself getting upset, look at your interpretation and then find at least 3 or 4 other ways to interpret the very same event.

Step 4: Notice how you feel with the new interpretations. Such as feeling lighter, silly, and happy. You’ll know you have successfully released a disempowering interpretation when your mood lifts up.

Step 5: Go easy on yourself when you get upset and are unable to initially reinterpret the event. It takes time and practice to learn to observe events and take things less personally.

Overcoming low self esteem and gaining confidence in any area of your life is one of the most liberating and empowering choices you will ever make. And finding new interpretations for what has happened in your life is a powerful first step.

Look for repeating themes in your relationships, and in your career and finances. Look for signals such as worrying about what other people think of you, feeling not good enough, anxiety, procrastination or avoidance, fear of failure, not speaking up for yourself, fear of making mistakes, over spending, inability to trust, and so on.

Then look for the hidden beliefs and begin reinterpreting them.

Once you see that most self-defeating patterns are rooted in the limiting self esteem beliefs you formed as a child, the mystery of why you behave a certain way begins to unravel. That alone is a huge relief to many people.

It Doesn’t Have to Take Long to Overcome Low Self Esteem

It is amazing how in a matter of a few weeks working with the right processes, you are suddenly free from a pattern that has plagued you for years.

And then you are well on your way to overcoming low self esteem and gaining the confidence you need to realize the dreams of your heart—ones that used to seem out of reach.

Desirée Watson is a transformational coach and trainer who specializes in helping people clear away patterns they wish they didn’t have. For more information go to www.WealthInsideOut.com/patternbusters

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Many people nowadays are facing midlife career changes and asking themselves the question, How can I do what I love and make money too?

And even some who’ve explored that question before, are suddenly in a position of having to deal with it.

Maybe you’ve been downsized, or you’ve simply hit a place where you’re no longer willing to continue down the old road anymore.

Sparking New Priorities

Midlife often sparks something new in a person’s priorities, and making a career change in midlife can seem especially daunting.

Yet making changes in midlife can also be a wonderful catalyst for growth. You just have to put it in the right perspective and get the tools you need to make these changes more easily.

One of the biggest benefits Desirée and I bring to our coaching clients and students is the benefit of foresight. 

Finding A Map to Follow

Many people when facing an unexpected change are not clear what to do next because they don’t have a good map to follow. And that is where we can help.

Midlife Career Change #1: 
Get Clear: What Do You Really Want to Do?

Midlife Career Change #2: 
Gather Resources and Build a Bridge:

Midlife Career Change #3:
Let Go of the Old:

Midlife Career Change #4: 
Put It All In Perspective:

Midlife Career Change #5:
Expect the Unexpected:

It seems like now more than ever knowing the secret of true wealth creation is paramount. As the economy continues its search for equilibrium, more and more people from around the world are becoming rattled and unnerved by their financial position.

But what to do?

The real question should be: “What are you here to do?”

Because the secret of true wealth creation must begin on the inside.

What Is Your Burning Desire?

All of us have a burning desire inside, something that we are meant to do. An obvious example is Oprah Winfrey, somebody who just can’t keep from inspiring people in her daily show. She may end her show one day, but she’ll never fully retire because she’s in love with the whole process of inspiring others. And the secret of true wealth creation is all about that process.

We can only find our highest levels of success and security when we are doing exactly what we’re meant to be doing. And true wealth creation is deeper and more meaningful than simply trying something new, however, and the secret to wealth is more than putting money in the bank.

To connect truly and wholly with our destiny we must clear away old habits and fears. We must dare to acknowledge and name those passions deep within and find the best wealth creation vehicle that fits with who we truly are.

Here are a few simple exercises from our codes of destiny program to get you started:

Begin with Your True Wealth Rumblings

Rumblings are deep inner longings or yearnings—the intuitive whispers that call you. Will you dare to name those passions deep within? You may experience rumblings as a discomfort you can’t quite explain or as feelings that seem familiar. They are primary in identifying your purpose and what you most desire.

One of our wealth mentoring students recently said it this way. “What I found truly liberating was discovering that I have a natural fit for achieving success that is uniquely mine.” Ask yourself these questions: Deep down what do I most want out of life? What are the unique gifts that I bring to the world?

Clear Old Habits and Fears

To create what we most want in life we must clear away old habits and fears. A good way to begin is by simply acknowledging what gets in our way. For example, my rumblings to write my first book Wealth Inside Out and create personal growth training programs were overshadowed by many negative thoughts and beliefs.

I would say things like “I’m not good enough” and “What I have to say is not important” and the like. Not a good foundation for true wealth creation.

Here’s the secret. One-by-one I began to silence those inner demons and take action—even when I was not sure of what to do next. Ask yourself these questions: How do I talk to myself about my deepest hopes and dreams? What would I do now if I knew that I could not fail?

Ask for Inner and Outer Help

To unlock the secret of true wealth creation you will need to cultivate a strong relationship with your interior and seek the counsel of skilled people who can help you succeed. Inner guidance is the secure inner reference place that helps you reorganize around your true priorities. You can access this inner power by asking for help from your higher power, or simply the part of you that knows. Say something like “Please help me find clear direction” or “What do I do next?” and then listen to your answers.

As new possibilities emerge look for ways to make it happen and take action. Whenever you get stuck ask for inner and outer help. Only then will you discover the secrets to becoming your best most empowered self, and realize your greatest dreams and goals. Always remember where true wealth creation begins.

Don’t Give Up

There may be times when you feel pulled to give up on your true wealth dreams. In fact, without the right support many people do give up and never fulfill what they were born to do. It breaks my heart whenever I see this because there is no need to give up. Help is all around. Finding your place in life (and your true wealth creation niche) happens naturally by activating the passions inside of you.

Much like a bird flies south for the winter and a whale navigates thousands of miles every year, you have an internal navigation system for finding true wealth and happiness.

The deeper you reach into the core of who you are, the more aligned you become with your destiny. Allow yourself to be genuinely receptive to the messages life is trying to reveal. As you follow your inner whispers, trust the natural process of life to reorganize around your true wealth vision and what you were born to do.

Whatever you do, don’t give up. Think of times when you and others have triumphed. Think of sports and how many games are won in the final moments. Following your dreams is an even greater game, one that pulsates with meaning and fulfillment, and you’ll find the secret of true wealth and happiness. There is nothing else like it. Get whatever support you need to realize success, and keep going… keep choosing your wealth creation dreams, and you too will discover the secret of true wealth creation—wealth  from the inside out.

Most people, when thinking about how to start a small business begin with the basic logical steps.

1. You have an idea
2. You do research
3. You look for the education you might need
4. You secure funding and resources
5. You start putting your small business together

And all of these steps for starting a small business are very important. You need to take these steps

What most people miss, however, are the vital inner steps:

1. What is motivating you to start a small business?

2. Why are you choosing this particular business? (List your reasons)

3. Does your business idea fit with who you are and the lifestyle you want for yourself and your family?

4. What skills do you need to make it in your own business? And do you have those skills, and how will you fill in the gaps?

5. Have you looked at the real numbers involved in starting your business? What will it cost you to get started and when will your pay-off begin to happen?

6. How long are you prepared to operate in your small before making a profit?

7. Do you have a viable business model that fits your unique personality and strengths and how you want to be spending your time? What will you actually enjoy doing?

When I was in my mid-twenties I went to a two-year business trade school on accounting and management. I wanted to learn how to start a small business—my own business—one that would bring me joy and financial freedom. I had thought I would like to be an independent bookkeeper, but I really didn’t have a clue what that business would be like.

It was a great plan, yet within a year of beginning the classes and curriculum, I realized that I did not like working with numbers all that much. Yet I also recognized that my new accounting skills would provide a good foundation for any business. So I continued my schooling—and my search for a different business.

As a raving Häagan Dazs fan, I landed on the idea of starting my own ice-cream and sandwich shop. This was only the beginning of my vision. I wanted to model my business after Häagan Dazs and set up the first store as a prototype for a nation-wide boutique ice-cream franchise.

I did all the research and secured the funding from a friend. I leased a retail space in a small shopping center, and bought equipment for the store. I hired a guy to remodel the space, got my logo and signs made and even hired someone to help me manage the store.

There was only one small problem, after running the business only 30 days, I was completely bored. This was partly a reflection of my youth and inexperience at the time. And the business did not exactly take off quickly the way I had planned. My vision of major franchise success was slowly fading away.

However, I did not give up easily. I worked hard for 9 months promoting the store, giving out flyers all over town, daily specials and so on. We plugged along relentlessly for 9 months until my funding source finally dried up. By then I had yet to turn a profit and could no longer afford to stay in business. So I sold off the equipment, was able to get out of my lease (what a blessing that was) and I moved on. My business had failed.

So was this failure a total waste? I guess it depends on how you look at it. Sure I lost some money, but I learned some very important lessons about how to start a small business, and few things about myself.

What I learned about starting a business is that there is much more to it than having a simple idea and trying to make money. Here’s a few tips from our Codes of Destiny program to get you started.

1. Choose a business you feel passionate about. What would you enjoy getting out of bed every day to go do? Because every business has its set of challenges. And you’ll need more than ordinary short-term motivation to see it through. Think in terms of what service you would like to provide or what problems you would like to solve for people. What will make you feel energized over the long haul?

2. Make sure you have adequate funding. If you are starting a service type business, such as yard care or a consulting business you can often make money right out of the gate, from your first contract or client. If you’re starting a retail company or an internet business it can take months (or even years in some cases) before you are profitable. Are you prepared to go all the way?

3. Build a bridge. Set up a plan to go from where you are to where you want to be. If you’re working a full-time job, and don’t yet have a lot of capital resources to start a business, make a “bridge plan.” Begin with what you have and build up from there. You’ll be surprised what can happen after a few months of working on your dream in your spare time.

Now, what I learned about myself is that I am not a quitter and I am able to take risks. I did not know myself very well at that young age. And I did not explore my ideas thoroughly enough to find a good match for my unique personality and passions.

I was focused solely on making money, and my true passions weren’t even considered.

I think it is good to explore new things, and to be adventurous throughout your life. As you cannot know all that you are capable of until you venture into new challenges, new opportunities and especially starting a new business.

But ideally, your business (and your source of income) will become a reflection of your values, your passions and your sense of service to something greater than yourself.

I like to think of starting and growing a small business as a path of personal development. Your business will likely challenge you to grow in ways you can not foresee. The question is Will you rise to this challenge?

Starting a small business can be a most rigorous path. Yet, it’s also the most fulfilling path when you choose your business based on motivations (and a vision) that you can put your whole heart and soul into. And this will prompt you to stay with it and follow through, even when times are tough.

Had someone sat me down before I chose the business of ice-cream and asked me to answer those 7 vital questions about the inner steps of starting a small business, it is very likely I would be sharing a wonderful story about how I started my first small business and made it all the way. And it would not have been about ice-cream (please forgive me Häagan Dazs).

So, if you have an idea brewing inside, sit down with all your heart and mind and answer those 7 questions. You’ll save yourself a lot of time and money, and a lot of grief. Because you won’t be wasting your valuable time and money on a venture that’s not the right fit for you.

You’ll have a thriving business that matches your goals and your unique dreams for success. Then, before you know it, you’ll be telling your own story of how to start a small business.♥

Desirée Watson is a transformational coach and trainer who specializes in helping people make the changes they’ve always wanted to make, and to step into the dreams of their hearts. To schedule an appointment or find more information go to www.DesireeWatson.com