I’ve just returned from a week in San Diego where I participated in a Mastermind program and business building workshop with others who like myself, are committed to developing high quality online teaching programs that will allow them to share their expertise with others who need it.
The program embodies a ’Success Formula’ for conducting an online business, with five components, developed by Danny Iny, the founder and CEO:
- Accountability
- Expertise
- Coaching
- Community
- Resources.
Over the next few newsletters I want to share with you some of what I’ve learned about these five elements of business success: but before I get to that, let me tell you about some of the challenges that held me back. Maybe you have similar experiences.
I nearly didn’t go! It’s a long journey from Melbourne to San Diego.
I needed to get from home to the airport at crack of dawn. The flight to Los Angeles is 14 hours straight and then you need to find another terminal and board another flight to San Diego. And then find transport to the conference venue.
I found the prospect quite daunting and was dreading the travel even although I’ve done a lot of travel and can comfortably call myself an experienced traveller.
Worse than that, even although I reassured myself that it was no big deal, my body clearly thought otherwise! For the few weeks preceding my travel I felt I was having recurring panic attacks. It wasn’t that there was any one thing that I especially worried about, it was more like continual free floating anxiety that recurred again and again.
So how did I manage this anxiety? Basically I used three approaches.
My Three Approaches to Managing Anxiety
- I know - as do we all - that nothing lasts forever. Uncomfortable feelings will pass. I just have to acknowledge them and choose not to dwell on them. This worked but I had to be persistent in reminding myself that this was so. The panic attacks did seem to have a life of their own!
My coach taught me a helpful breathing exercise that I used a lot. I’ve always been a fan of using breathing to change from one state to another so I was intrigued by this ultra simple method.
Here it is.
Breath in for 3 seconds; breath out for 3 seconds: breath in for 3 seconds, breathe out for 3 seconds: breath in for 3 seconds, breath out for 3 seconds.
That’s it. Research has shown that this particular timing of the breath puts the ‘right’ amount of oxygen in the blood stream to the brain and this has a balancing and calming effect. Try it and let me know how you go.
I reminded myself that the original choice to go to this live event was made ‘in accordance with my inner wisdom’, meaning that when I made the choice, I knew that doing this was in alignment with who I am and what I am here to do.
Each of us has our own inner wisdom. When we are open to listening to it and following it, we get guidance.
I’ve noticed a few times in my life, when something that would turn out to be super important to me was happening, that I’ve had these inner ‘disagreements’.
My inner wisdom says one thing, my reason another, and my feelings indicate something quite different again!
When I chose to follow my inner wisdom in spite of my feelings, I found that the outcomes surpassed my expectations.
And this is how it worked out for me for my trip to San Diego.
- I met and talked with a group of like-minded entrepreneurs who were committed to building an online teaching business. This in itself was tremendously inspiring. Many of us commented on how quickly we had connected as well as on the feeling that we now ‘had each others' back’.
I got helpful feedback on my own online teaching business. I felt affirmed that I was on to something that would be valuable in enhancing life for others.
I started several friendships that I fully expect to be lasting and develop over the years because we share some of the same values and have a common interest in building a business that is genuinely helpful to others.
And because I am very process oriented - I love processes that both respect and allow people to change - I learnt from studying the processes underlying the organisation of the event. These processes were designed to encourage connection, sharing and trust.
My challenge to you
Sometimes we need to be challenged. We really know what we need and want to be doing but we need to hear it from someone else.
So here is my challenge to you for this week.
Take out 20 minutes. Sit down, make yourself comfortable. Then quietly ask yourself these questions and wait in silence for some answers.
- Where do you want to be?
- What's holding you back?
- What do you need to do about it NOW?
When you listen to your own inner wisdom, what does it tell you about your next immediate step in life?
If you could use some support with this process, please get in touch.
Phone or text me on 0400 156 069.