LIFT In My Own Business

I intended to write a great blog post tonight about what happens once you’ve dealt with financial fear in your life.

Hint:  It makes way for you to deal with a whole host of other issues you haven’t been looking at because the financial fear has been taking up so much of your emotional energy.  But, I have to save that for a future post because it’s going to take a while to write and it’s too late for me to start that one now.

Why is it so late and I’m still sitting at my computer?

Because I’ve been putting the finishing touches on my LIFT Foundation System, which is going to be finally ready next week.  I cannot even tell you how excited I am to share this legacy project with you.

I’ve heard from several business people I’ve watched for years and respect tremendously that they have been waiting for exactly this program.

If you have not yet watched the deep behind the scenes interviews I did as a preview to LIFT with Melanie Benson Strick, Ali Brown and her VA turned biz partner Liz Murphy, and Lisa Sasevich, get them now.

People are RAVING about them.  These are not ordinary “why we are great” interviews – we are looking at the last taboos of business – financial collapse, business drama, and threats of lawsuits.

In the midst of my preparations for the launch of LIFT, I’ve been addressing LIFT issues in my own business.

Anytime your business is at a transition point, you are going to have LIFT issues come up.

They could come in the form of external things like you’ll hear about in the interviews I did with Melanie and Lisa or internal things like drama within your business, like I talked about with Ali and Liz.

But, one way or another, LIFT issues arise at times of transition and growth. How you deal with them, determines what your next level looks like.

Handle them with your eyes wide open and you are on your way to taking your business and life to the next level.  Handle them with your eyes squeezed shut and in the dark and it’s crash and burn time.

I’ve done the eyes squeezed shut thing once already and I refuse to allow it to happen again, so I’m digging back into the business side of my business, seeing what’s really there, accepting the reality of what it is and making decisions with awareness.

It’s bringing up all sorts of emotional stuff for me, that’s for sure.

Making hard decisions.  Looking at things I’ve avoided in the past.  Doing things I wasn’t willing to do in the past (generally around money and support).

But, fortunately, I’ve got a phenomenal LIFT team around me and with their help I’m doing what I need to do.   Establishing boundaries with an open heart.  And structuring my business so it can make an impact forever and not just a few years.

It’s not so easy, but what I’ve realized is that it’s true what they say nothing worth having comes easy.  Easy is the reward for doing what’s difficult.

If you aren’t willing to go through the hard part, you aren’t going to get the easy.

So, I’m learning to love the hard parts.  I took a great bike ride today and cried my eyes out (loudly!) the whole way.

Colorado and it’s big empty space is great for some loud, honkin’ crying.

And after I cried, I thanked God.

Because what I know is that no matter how hard things are to see, as long as I am growing through all of it, allowing every opportunity to guide me to be more of who I am, and continuing to stay present in the truth, it’s all good.  Oh so very good.

What’s hard for you in your business right now? Is there anything you’ve started to become aware of that you’ve been approaching with your eyes closed up until now?  If so, I’d love to hear about it.  The comments are a great place to share.

14 Comments

  1. Samantha FlickWednesday, February 3, 2010 at 8:49 pm 

    It's a funny thing- I am on the verge of tears a lot more now that I am happy than I ever was during my most depressed states. I am not used to it and my immediate reaction is to feel weak and vulnerable and judge myself, rather than realize it just means I am alive and do not hide my emotions as a coping mechanism. Anyway, that was my moment of awareness, and I thank you for 'over'-sharing . It's so much easier to accept some of the things about myself when I am reminded that people I admire have to deal with the same human traits as me.

  2. Kiyla FenellWednesday, February 3, 2010 at 11:49 pm 

    You should post a warning with your videos. “Do not watch without a box of kleenex.”

  3. Samantha FlickThursday, February 4, 2010 at 2:49 am 

    It's a funny thing- I am on the verge of tears a lot more now that I am happy than I ever was during my most depressed states. I am not used to it and my immediate reaction is to feel weak and vulnerable and judge myself, rather than realize it just means I am alive and do not hide my emotions as a coping mechanism. Anyway, that was my moment of awareness, and I thank you for 'over'-sharing . It's so much easier to accept some of the things about myself when I am reminded that people I admire have to deal with the same human traits as me.

  4. Kiyla FenellThursday, February 4, 2010 at 5:49 am 

    You should post a warning with your videos. “Do not watch without a box of kleenex.”

  5. Karri FlatlaFriday, February 5, 2010 at 5:17 pm 

    I graduated from a 4-year degree in business with “Great Distinction” and thought I'd crush the world with my acumen and know-how.

    Universities don't teach you much about being an entrepreneur … or should I say, BUSINESS programs do not prepare you. In fact, my arts and science electives taught me far more about entrepreneurship than any of my biz courses.

    But here's the thing … my big thing: as an introverted, thinky Alpha Female who can be very confident and extroverted when I want to be, selling to and quoting to prospective clients has been ONE thing I don't think I'd get an “A” in 🙂

    As I told my biz coach (whom you know very well!) I'm a fantastic marketer and copywriter but a so-so closer in person.

    And guess what? If you stumble over this ONE thing, your business could be a gonner.

    Talk about gulping back your fear and your pride and all the rest of it. The gal who has her sh*t together still stutters at “Show me the money!”

    We're all smart women who know some of these foundations on an intellectual level, but until we know them in our souls, we can't really show up 110% can we?

    PS: I heard you're “showing up” somewhere rather cool in March. Me too. Looking so forward to it!

  6. Karri FlatlaFriday, February 5, 2010 at 11:17 pm 

    I graduated from a 4-year degree in business with “Great Distinction” and thought I'd crush the world with my acumen and know-how.

    Universities don't teach you much about being an entrepreneur … or should I say, BUSINESS programs do not prepare you. In fact, my arts and science electives taught me far more about entrepreneurship than any of my biz courses.

    But here's the thing … my big thing: as an introverted, thinky Alpha Female who can be very confident and extroverted when I want to be, selling to and quoting to prospective clients has been ONE thing I don't think I'd get an “A” in 🙂

    As I told my biz coach (whom you know very well!) I'm a fantastic marketer and copywriter but a so-so closer in person.

    And guess what? If you stumble over this ONE thing, your business could be a gonner.

    Talk about gulping back your fear and your pride and all the rest of it. The gal who has her sh*t together still stutters at “Show me the money!”

    We're all smart women who know some of these foundations on an intellectual level, but until we know them in our souls, we can't really show up 110% can we?

    PS: I heard you're “showing up” somewhere rather cool in March. Me too. Looking so forward to it!

  7. Alexis Martin NeelySunday, February 7, 2010 at 12:36 pm 

    Thank you Sami. I open myself in this way so that we can see what it looks like to really live a life of truth and self-acceptance. Glad to know it's helping you do that.

  8. Alexis Martin NeelySunday, February 7, 2010 at 12:38 pm 

    I feel happy when you write that. When I was practicing law and working with my client families, I'd often say that I knew I had done a good job when my clients cried.

    This was in contrast to the partner I worked for when I was first in practice who would just about get up and walk out of the room if someone cried because he was so uncomfortable.

    A friend once told me that tears make us smarter. I believe that.

  9. Alexis Martin NeelySunday, February 7, 2010 at 12:42 pm 

    Can't wait to see you in March Karri! Will that be in Austin or Vancouver?

    I totally hear you re stumbling over the close. It's something I'm currently struggling with myself. And what's so funny is that the thing I was really great at in my law firm and one of my best selling systems for lawyers is how to engage (close) clients.

    And yet, here I am again as I move into a new space and new offerings and I am resisting the close. It's bringing up all my old issues of worth and value. But, it's great because I get to see what's still there to be worked on and to me that's what business and life are all about.

  10. Alexis Martin NeelySunday, February 7, 2010 at 6:36 pm 

    Thank you Sami. I open myself in this way so that we can see what it looks like to really live a life of truth and self-acceptance. Glad to know it's helping you do that.

  11. Alexis Martin NeelySunday, February 7, 2010 at 6:38 pm 

    I feel happy when you write that. When I was practicing law and working with my client families, I'd often say that I knew I had done a good job when my clients cried.

    This was in contrast to the partner I worked for when I was first in practice who would just about get up and walk out of the room if someone cried because he was so uncomfortable.

    A friend once told me that tears make us smarter. I believe that.

  12. Alexis Martin NeelySunday, February 7, 2010 at 6:42 pm 

    Can't wait to see you in March Karri! Will that be in Austin or Vancouver?

    I totally hear you re stumbling over the close. It's something I'm currently struggling with myself. And what's so funny is that the thing I was really great at in my law firm and one of my best selling systems for lawyers is how to engage (close) clients.

    And yet, here I am again as I move into a new space and new offerings and I am resisting the close. It's bringing up all my old issues of worth and value. But, it's great because I get to see what's still there to be worked on and to me that's what business and life are all about.

  13. Karri FlatlaSunday, February 7, 2010 at 11:46 pm 

    WOW … I suddenly feel a bit more “comfortable with my discomfort” over closing! LOL. Thank you for being so honest about that.

    I totally feel what you're saying because there have been other instances/jobs/etc where sales felt so much easier. Yet now that my skill set is really in a different place, now that I'm essentially selling MYSELF at a higher level … I stutter sometimes.

    Oh, I'll be seeing you in Vancouver! 🙂

  14. Karri FlatlaMonday, February 8, 2010 at 5:46 am 

    WOW … I suddenly feel a bit more “comfortable with my discomfort” over closing! LOL. Thank you for being so honest about that.

    I totally feel what you're saying because there have been other instances/jobs/etc where sales felt so much easier. Yet now that my skill set is really in a different place, now that I'm essentially selling MYSELF at a higher level … I stutter sometimes.

    Oh, I'll be seeing you in Vancouver! 🙂

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