It’s my 5th Business Birthday!
I can’t believe Enrichment Coaching is 5. Where did those 5 years go?
I clearly remember on 8th July 2019, sat in my garden, taking a deep breath, pulling up my BIG PANTS and pressing PUBLISH across my website and social media channels. I’m not sure what I thought would happen in that moment – a big bang? An influx of enquires? Of course non of that happened but even so it was a big moment for me.
WHAT HAVE A LEARNT IN 5 YEARS?
Soooooo much…..here’s a summary in 5 things. To be honest it’s probably more like 500+ things, but no-one can keep hold of all that information!
5 Things I learnt about CONFIDENCE in 5 years.
- Confidence is UNIQUE to you.
It’s made up of SOOOO many different things, that what confidence means to you will be as unique to you as your fingerprint. It’s up to you to think about and determine what that meaning is before you can start working towards it.
- Confidence underpins EVERYTHING we do.
It’s at the heart of everything we do, from learning new things, meeting new people or believing that your team will win! You already have confidence, so I’d challenge you to take a moment to think about where that confidence is for you.
- You can ENRICH confidence.
Confidence is malleable, you have the power to ENRICH it by working on the things that IMPACT it. We’re not born with confidence and we can build it, it can be what we want it to be. We have the choice to change it. Where would you like more confidence? What’s in your control to make that change?
- Confidence is a PRACTICE
You have to PRACTICE confidence, like anything we want to be good at, you have to take ACTION to make a change. Confidence is like a muscle the more you work on it the stronger it becomes.
- You need COURAGE
Courage and Confidence go hand-in-hand, they’re best friends. You need COURAGE to go and do the thing you’ve been procrastinating over, the thing that scares you or makes you feel uncomfortable. Go on pull up your BIG PANTS and do it!
And what about running a small BUSINESS in 5 years?
Oh wow, there is a learning curve! Here’s 5 pieces of advice I’ve have given myself 5 years ago if I’d have known what I know now:
- Don’t FORCE it
It will happen, put in the hard work, stay focused and true to yourself but don’t try and force it – you don’t need to be sat at your desk 24/7, go to the networking, go for coffee with connections or friends, go for a walk! Your phone will work anywhere, so you’re unlikely to miss that client call.
- Be BRAVE
Yes, pull up your BIG PANTS, for the courage to say yes to stuff, to say no to stuff. FAIL; First Action In Learning, reframe it and never stop learning from it.
- Stay in your own LANE
Don’t compare yourself to others in your industry. Remember that it’s the show reel of life out there on social media, (and sometimes what others tell you about how they’re doing!). It’s your adventure, your time and energy is much better spent focusing on you.
- Your NETWORK
Working for yourself can be lonely. Build your network of fellow business owners, surround yourself with people who will support you – not just say what you want to hear!
- Get an ACCOUNTANT
When you are able to invest in accountant, do it! Let them take all the stress away so you can focus on doing what you do best! Play to your strengths.
You can see a summary of the above points by reading my Exclusive Birthday Newspaper!
ON REFLECTION
- Lots of learning about business, about confidence, about coaching, about myself
- Lots of practicing what I preach in so many ways from living my values everyday, to practicing confidence and becoming the most authentic version of Gayle
- Lots of managing Betty, my inner critic, with her what ifs and overthinking
- Lots of being pulling up my BIG PANTS and being courageous
- Lots of hard work, lots of networking
Whether we’ve worked together, had coffee, met at networking or if you’ve ever liked, shared, commented on posts or maybe you’ve listened to a Confidence Conversations podcast episode; I want to say THANK YOU for being with me on this adventure, it’s a crazy ride sometimes, it’s also really rewarding, it’s loads of fun and there’s no going back!
And finally…
Did you know I have a newsletter with monthly that can be delivered straight to your inbox? From September this will be known as BIG PANTS update – so join my adventure for monthly Confidence Enrichers & ways to be COURAGEOUS, by signing up, I promise not to spam you!
Find out more about working with me: Enrichment Coaching
