Picking and Choosing
I feel it safe to say that just about all of us are faced with many choices each day, particularly as they relate to solicitations which come our way. Some of them may come in the US mail we receive. Others may come through email accounts or other social media sites we frequent. In fact, once online resources have a sense of one’s pattern of choice coming from either your computer or your sign on account, you are often being solicited before you reach the site you are focused on getting to. If you are a member of a professional society, often such meetings either have sponsors, or keynote speakers, making an offer on a product or service they assure that you must have to be successful in your chosen profession.
When I first started in the coaching profession, I was new to so many things. The coaching profession was new to me. Being an entrepreneur was new to me. Not having a company support structure set up that took care of my professional needs was new to me. At that point in my career journey I was susceptible to many feelings. There was fear that if I did not sign up for a particular program or service, I would be left behind other coaches in terms of my success. There was anxiousness about spending money on a program, when little to no money was coming into the business. There was that balance of whether I was getting value for my money, versus was I being taken in to something that I really did not need or would not be a part of my business as I moved forward.
As time went on, I became more sophisticated in terms of the choices I would make as to the services or events I would put money toward attending, and those I would pass by. So, what changed for me? I think first I became more comfortable in my abilities as a coach, knowing just what services I would offer, who would be my target clients, and who would not. Another thing that happened was I decided which parts of the business I would be responsible for doing myself, and which I would look for assistance from another professional provider. For example, I decided I would write all the material for my website, but I would hire a virtual assistant to develop my website, post my materials, and use her social media talents to get my message out through various platforms.
I also began to realize that while I would and could take on more clients, all of them would not be front and center every day I did business. Some might need my assistance only a couple of days a month. Others preferred weekly check in points with me. I needed to realize that many of my clients were juggling multiple aspects in their life, especially those who had just taken part in family relocations, so as such while their intentions may have been honorable to focus on their career search quickly, family issues took priority.
This all came to a realization for me recently, when I sensed that the solicitations coming my way seemed to be more than I had received in a while. I had many offering me upgrades to the search features of my website or upgrading the website itself. Others were for the next great coaching class or concept on which to be trained and certified. Still others were for attending this conference or that conference. Many I realized that I could immediately discard. Others held intrigue, but I was able to go back to a basic question that would help me determine if I should explore further. “How will this item help me be able to provide additional value or service to my clients, which adds to what I am able to currently offer them?” Asking that question, and being in a position of confidence to answer it, comes again from knowing so well who I am meant to serve and how I can best provide it to them.
So, if you think that you are being pulled in many different directions, and that you are overwhelmed because you are convinced you must take this course, or attend that meeting or activity because you are told it is the only way to succeed, STOP and take a step back. Realize you have the ability to pick and choose the activities, services, support systems, etc., that are right for you. In turn you will find that you will be able to better define who you are, who it is you are meant to serve, and in turn increase your happiness and contentment in doing so.
