I’m just going to come out and say it: I haven’t felt like writing much over the last two weeks (hence the reason you haven’t seen a post from me in a few).
Why, you might ask?
Well, the answer to that question is EXTREMELY relevant to your life and business (so make sure to stay with me all the way to the end here).
You see, everything is shifting in a pretty dramatic way for me right now. In fact, it feels like something completely new and different is about to emerge out of the depths of my soul.
You get that feeling too?
For example, here’s what’s happening in the next 30 days:
- I’m moving my entire team to Hawaii for a month to work from a beach-front house in Maui.
- We’re preparing to launch an entirely NEW event called “The Event Mastery Blueprint” which will teach you an exact step-by-step system for putting on your own highly powerful (and profitable) live seminars (stay tuned for more about this soon).
- We’re preparing to launch a new program called “Stream of Confidence” that will help you cultivate new levels of self-mastery so that you can step into your power as a leader and entrepreneur.
- I’m meeting with a potential new partner to discuss the possibility of bringing him on-board to take this business to the next level.
- I just joined a NEW $20k Mastermind Group.
- I am surrendering more and more control to the members of my team as we strive to create an entirely new business model that is truly about freedom, empowerment, and personal responsibility.
- My mom comes into town today.
Whew…..that feels like a lot!!! Right?
And here’s what this all means to you…
Time and time again, I hear people say things like: “I should be writing more” or “I should be seeing more clients.” But the truth is that whenever you start to feel the SHOULD energy, that means it’s time to take a step back, soften, and allow what naturally needs to happen…..to happen.
Because let’s face it….there is ALWAYS more to do.
And here’s the catch: trying to force yourself to do things that don’t feel like they are in your flow is not only bad for you, it’s bad for your business.
Did you catch that?
FORCING IS BAD FOR YOUR BUSINESS!
Because no matter how hard you try to mask the “should” energy, people will see right through it and know that you’re just doing something for the sake of doing it….not because your heart’s really into it.
So instead of judging yourself, beating yourself up, or getting all stressed out and worried….be easy. The truth is that you don’t have to be in the forefront of somebody’s mind at every given moment to have a successful business. In fact, sometimes more is less.
Now a word of caution
Sometimes you don’t want to do something because it authentically feels like it’s not the right time…
…and sometimes you don’t want to do something just because you’re just scared.
Since most people seem to have a really difficult time discerning between the two, let me tell you a REALLY simple way to figure this out:
From a quiet and centered place, ask yourself the question: “What’s true for me?”
If you listen to the signals of your body and get a “not now” or a “NO”, that’s real and go with it. BUT, if you get a “I can’t” or “I’m just putting it off”, than take that as a sign to move forward immediately and step into that unknown place…..NOW.
You see, the funny thing about fear is that it’s only scary until the moment you step into it. Then, once you start, you realize that it’s like anything else new – you just need to figure it out….and that’s just about being committed to showing up.
What To Do With This…
Because I’m always laser-focused on making sure you have clear, tangible next steps to implement immediately, here’s what you can take-away from this note:
- Make a list of everything you feel like you “should” be doing and go through the exercise above to discern between “I should do this because of social pressure” or “I need to do this because it will actually help me and I’ve been postponing it because I’m afraid.”
- Make a commitment to take immediate, imperfect action on your top point….as in by the end of the week.
- Give yourself permission to let go of the things that don’t feel necessary right now. For example, I’m not big into Twitter so I just don’t go on there very much. Do some people disagree with me? YES! Do I care? Not at this moment. Remember, this is YOUR business. Make choices that support your lifestyle.
I will be making this list NOW. great advice, Max.
You’ve hit the nail on the head (again), Max! I have been practicing my own recognition of when it’s a “no” and when it’s an “I’m scared” and taking the action anyway. There’s so much left-brain “should-ing” all over ourselves all over the place in business (and life). It’s refreshing to hear a business leader talk about finding what’s true for you and staying in integrity and alignment with that. Thank you, Max!!!! I so appreciate you.
Hi Max –
Thanks for the update, and good luck with the move. I am reminded to not force events and actions, and it’s okay to tailor my business to my lifestyle, as you mentioned in your Twitter example. Aloha!
Max you rock! Thanks! Since getting back from the Enlightened Entrepreneurs Event I have had a list of SHOULDS that have been beating at my brain.
So instead of judging myself, beating myself up, or getting a bit stressed and worried… that I am slacking
I am going to be easy…. By continuing to take the small planned steps and enjoying an occasional spurt of spontaneity. Steady flow … every day… imperfect action…a little closer. Ahh…progress.
Enjoy your visit with your mom!
Absolutely true, dear Max!
I was saying the same thing to a coach i was coaching last week. Being authentic is the cornerstone of our business. Learning what works for us and how to make things, like twitter work for us is a process. Relaxing into the flow not only allows us to offer more authentic value but it also allows us to model healthy, genuine contribution.
Thanks again Max.
Imagine the Possibilities!
Kristin
Hi Max,
Thanks for the brilliant post. We have missed you even if you’ve had a whole slew of excellent reasons!
Just this morning I woke up with an a-ha that an offer that was presented to me – a very big opportunity – was a “no”. I had been in the land of “I really should do this” for about a week.
* I “should” say “yes” because you are always supposed to say yes to opportunity – right? * I “should” say “yes” because they trust me to do the job (me ego was frankly flattered). * I “should” say “yes” because I can’t come up with a good, aka: rational, reason to say “no”.
And on and on the should’s went. Then this morning, first thing that came to my conscious awareness was “no, this opportunity is not yours”. So reading your post helped me acknowledge even deeper that I can be in an incongruent “yes” out of fear just as easily as an incongruent “no”.
What really matters is knowing how to know my own truth.
Shine on Max!!
Hey Max,
This is a great post – thank you! I like your method of discerning – I think that’s key. Also, that photo says so much! I feel like I have a bunch of different people talking to me and bossing me around sometimes! ;0) Thank you for sharing and good luck with everything. It’s a very exciting time for you and everyone you’re helping!
Peace,
Anne
Max, you are right in “schedule,” as usual, with your blog post content. This has been my very focus lately, stepping back, taking space (even though I’m tempted to force something that would attract more income) and taking imperfect action on the top point. Your posts seem to arrive just in time to inspire or affirm my choice.
Thank you!
yes the shifting NEw VERSION of Me is occuring over here too!!
Thank you for the tips on clarifying choices, where are they made from, where they are coming from! LOts of Love and Lots of LAUGHS
I am happy you wrote this Max, for I am right in sink with you. My big shift from “should” be doing to me doing what I feel is best actually showed up with my “vision” board. For some reason I just could not complete it and then I realized that for me before all the big Secret craze came out, which is great btw, I always would manifest through prayer… So me creating a vision board never felt great and I could not figure out why, so I never would complete it. So just last night I named my “vision board” my prayer board, and wahla! Magic, I am so excited to look at and finish it now! So sometimes a simple shift can turn into big movement quickly, just by honoring a deeper feeling of my knowing, than thinking “I should have a vision board!” Thanks for the great reflection Max!
: )
Audra
Take immediate imperfect action….by the end of the week. I LOVE this!
Amen To This Whole Article! I’m in the Middle of Moving, Incorporating My Non-Profit, Etc. I Have Been Discerning I Need To Always Schedule In Time To Rejuvenate. I’ve Been On The Grind, Doing What I Need/Want To Do. Like Marie Forleo Says, “HUSTLE AND GET SHIT DONE”!(LOL, LUV HER). I just Need To Relax And Hang Out W/ The Family & Friends. It’s Time For The Spa.
THanks Max for the great reminder to us all, to allow, and tune in. THis was perfect to read from you today, as I was thinking of you, wondering what you and your magical team are up to, and thinking, i should be doing so much more today. But then i came to your blog, found this, and you gave me the permission to continue the practice of allowing…. and then a great client came into the picture. Poof, just like that. Simple, easy, and in the flow. Much love you all and the tribe!
I absolutely love this. Thank you, and keep us posted with the new classes, I could not make it to the last one. This is so true. I very often get inspiration or business ideas that make no sense first, but I learned to try and go with the flow, and it turns out great. Indeed, the more I force myself, which I do a lot, the less things work, or at least they are very hard to do or finish. Me being German, I say, well good things don’t come easily, but really contrary is the case. So now I learned to look out for those little messages and inspirations that don’t make sense and I try to understand and feel them. Acting on them often brings me not to what was initially the message, but often to another thing, that is even more powerful. And funny enough it always ties into the thing that was there anyway…just taking the ‘detour’ enriches the product, idea or experience.
YES- I have been thinking about this very thing lately. It’s amazing how whenever I take a break, feel my feelings, etc. the new opportunities and personal breakthroughs come without fail. Thank you.
The thing I learned in the “blogosphere” is that you should never apologize for not blogging. People will like you more when you make a mistake (after all we’re human!), show personality in your blogging, blah blah blah.
What’s the $20k Mastermind Group about?
The thing about surrendering reminds me of the Debbie Ford interview in The Passion Test Book by Janet Bray Atwood and Chris Attwood.
I don’t get the part of how sometimes more is less.
Point #3 under What To Do With This reminds me of a blog post and the key thing in that blog post is: Are you willing to let people down?
LOve this confirmation thing!
Instead of thinking about how I should find/get more clients I’m inspired to look for a bigger space to host them?!
AND…. really realizing that I simply need to focus on my purpose… As I do more flyers/ads I’m really just feeling the need to be honest and just post my Life Purpose- the people who need to experience that will just be drawn to me.
No more bending my marketing to look mainstream/legit. Silly me- integrity in intention is obvious! Enjoy Hawaii AND… MOM! aloha!
I must say I do not agree with making a commitment to make a imperfect action, I believe we accomplish many things with out even knowing it.
Why would I / anybody want to make even the smallest effort of imperfect action ?
Thank goodness I don’t need to sign up for Twitter – as this truly is not me!
I recently had a similar experience in that there was something that needed to be done, but other, more important (to me), things kept taking precedence. I was beginning to get anxious about not getting to that ‘job’, when one day things just fell into place, I had time, and it got done in way less time than I expected it would. For me, the lesson is to lighten up about what ‘needs’ to be done. I’ll get to it when the time is right!
Max, I was finally going through my piled up emails from the week (thinking “I should find a better way of doing this and/or get an assistant!”) when I read your post. Thanks once again for being so raw and real — and for sharing a much-needed message. If you did nothing else today, you would have given one person more peace of mind and helped her to sleep more soundly and wake up refreshed on a Monday morning. Thanks… Your mother must be so proud.