Daring Mondays: Be

So, of course, after having interviewed Danielle LaPorte (read it yourself: Part 1 & Part 2) I had to buy The Fire Starter Session; you just can’t get to know her and not want to read what she has to offer. I bought the program during the pre-launch and happily printed the whole program out (double-sided, recycled paper, and super eco-printer of course) as soon as it released last week.

But you see, the thing is, I haven’t really begun it; I just can’t get into it! Don’t get me wrong, it’s not the Fire Starter Sessions themselves – no, those are fabulous and I’m already in love with them, even with the little I’ve read. No, the problem is all me.

As a small enterpreneur working from home who cares more about people than money and business I know I need all the business help and advice I can get (preferably from down-to-earth, conversational sources that don’t make my head hurt), but they always seem to leave me with a sense of panic. They are all written for people who know exactly what they do, what they have to offer, and at least have a general idea who they are doing it for. Sadly, I feel like I don’t know the answers to any of those questions.

I imagine that from a business point of view I’m floundering, but it never feels like it. At least not until I sit down to learn about running my own business (and succeeding at it) then I suddenly feel like the proverbial man (woman) being tossed about by the waves. Pushed and pulled by the pressure being exerted on me and not sure that I have what it takes to keep my head above water.

I know exactly where my passions lie, I know what I love and what message I have to share with people. It all starts to get fuzzy when I need to define how those pieces go together and what exactly I do with them. That’s when I start to feel like I’m trying to create a picture out of pieces that come from totally different puzzle boxes.

The problem, of course, has to do with expectations. It seems that I believe that there is a right and wrong way things should be. I (and I propose that this is true for most of us) look at work as having clearly defined perimeters: a life coach works with people in talking sessions where they don’t give their advice, a teacher works with classes and shares information, a psychic gives readings, a pastor (spiritual leader) counsels and leads services… In some way I am all of these things, and yet do all and none of those things. So, when it comes time to answer the questions What Do I Do, and What Do I Sell I become flustered and confused.

I have tried following the conventional advice. I’ve worked through the questions and the books. I’ve tried narrowing things down, being specific, envisioning my work, etc. But, whenever I try to clarify things I have to leave out some aspect or another and it doesn’t take long before the Joy fades away and it just starts feeling like Work.

So, you see, whenever I start reading Danielle’s brilliant piece of work all of this starts to burble up. Worry, fear that I’m not enough for the business world, and an overwhelming sense of inadequacy are not exactly my favourite reading companions. And to be honest, I’m not exactly sure what to do about it.

The root of the whole thing lies in finding the answer to just one question: Is it possible to translate who I am (how I express myself in the world and all my disjointed and unconventional passions) into a practical business model?

This week as I keep bumping into the issue (and try to let myself delve into the Fire Starters) my heart keeps coming back with one answer over and over again: Just Be. Just keep plodding along, keep doing what’s in front of me, keep Being myself and trust that all those details will work themselves out as I go. Just do the blog post. Just write the lesson. Just finish the homework. And when it’s done, take the next opportunity that presents itself.

The truth of this advice is that there’s no hurry, things will all come together in their own time and way, and in the meantime there’s no need to force the issue. (Forcing things never really helps anyway.) Just be, and enjoy the ride while you’re at it too.

Over to You:
This week, let’s stop trying so hard and just go with the flow. Is there some part of your life where you’ve been feeling pressured to define something, or to be something you aren’t sure is really you? This week, just let yourself be, do what’s in front of you and let all the planning and defining be for now. Hey, you never know, that ever elusive answer may just pop up when we are least expecting it!

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