New Rules

Last week I was working with one of my small business clients, a bright and dynamic woman who's passionate about positioning her artisan business for growth. We were talking about her financial picture and forecasting robust sales over the next three years.

As I coached her, she expressed excitement and eagerness to see her dreams turn into reality, yet somewhere, just below the surface, I sensed subtle resistance on her part to fully imagine the scenario we were painting.

I asked her about what she was feeling. After stopping for a moment to "feel into" my observation, she tentatively at first, then heartily agreed. Then she got very curious about her seemingly incongruous resistance to success.

"Sarah", I asked, "What is your 'rule', about financial success? In other words, what belief do you carry (deep down) about money?" It didn't take long for her to respond. "Well," she reported, "if you're financially successful, it means you have to give up on your values and your integrity".

Wow! By uncovering that one rule, Sarah hit pay dirt. She was now free to clearly see that one disempowering rule she had been carrying her entire life.

Taking a look at the rules that drive your thinking is a very powerful activity to help you grow as a person, especially as a business owner. Another wise client of mine once said, "There's no way to separate who we are from what we do". You can have the most empowered business plans in the world and if your inner life and dialog is disempowered?forget it. It's an up hill battle.

What are your 'under-the surface rules' that run your life and business? To explore, ask yourself: Where are you consistently stuck in your business? What are the things that always hang you up? What are the recurring thoughts or themes you could write the book about?

I invite your willingness to explore. You have only strength and success to gain.

Here are some examples of themes we all know too well:

I can't quite breakthrough to financial success

I default to fear and lack

I always feel overwhelmed and exhausted and out of time

Procrastination is my middle name

I walk up to the edge of a challenge and then back away

I avoid

I would suggest that behind every common theme, you have a rule. For example, if you're like Sarah and you can't breakthrough to financial success, you might have a rule that says, "People that make money, sell out." Or, if you are constantly procrastinating, you might have a rule that says, "If I succeed, I'll wind up alone." (Maybe you experienced a parent who worked a lot, and was unhappy and you concluded that success = unhappiness).

Explore where your rules came from by asking: When did the rule get created? What were the circumstances? Ask, if you were to change that rule, what would happen? Who would be upset? Who would get hurt or feel betrayed?

Take heart, you created your rules for a good reason. We all create meaning about life from our experiences and then create rules to keep us safe, secure and sane. The problem comes when we neglect to inquire or challenge the current validity of our rules.

You have the ability to move beyond your limited rules by becoming aware of them, disqualifying them, (if they don't serve you), and then by making new rules based on your current reality. I challenge you to give it a try.

As for Sarah, she created a new rule that says she can be financially successful, maintain her values, fulfill her dream and express her passion in the world. What's YOUR new rule?

It's your life?live it completely!

Helaine is a professional coach and writer, who has been featured in numerous publications, including "O" The Oprah Magazine. She helps entrepreneurs and professional women accelerate their professional success, while achieving a more complete and fulfilling personal life. For a free consultation, contact her at 603-357-8546 to discuss how she can help you accelerate your own success. You may also visit her website, http://www.pathofpurpose.com, or email your questions to helaine@pathofpurpose.com

---

Applying The Daffodil Theory into Business Practice

At times all of us need a bit of inspiration... Read More

Are You an Entrepreneur That is Starved for Time?

Being an entrepreneur and running a successful home-based business is... Read More

Entrepreneurs Ask: As a Novice Entrepreneur, How Can I Feel Less Overwhelmed?

Great question! Overwhelm is very common even among the most... Read More

Evaluating an Opportunity

Business opportunities are often based on broad trends, such as:?... Read More

Business Is No Guarantee of Riches

Q: I'm thinking about starting a business since that seems... Read More

Solving the Million Dollar Mystery: 4 Steps To Create A Turn-Key Business

You're a smart, hardworking entrepreneur, and you're moving fast. You... Read More

Entrepreneurship Story; Over Regulation in Franchising Part I

Jim and Sally run a successful auto business, which they... Read More

The Entrepreneurial Difference

Who would ever have imagined that going door-to-door in my... Read More

Beware the Opposition!

Any time you make changes in your life you are... Read More

The Desire For Money, Do You Have Business Sense?

For those of us who grew up with parents who... Read More

Competitive Edge

In his book, The Road Ahead, Bill Gates of Microsoft... Read More

Why Every Student Should Start a Business

With the economic downturn, students in all the major business... Read More

Pre-Money vs. Post-Money Valuation

When a company decides that it must raise capital, a... Read More

Be An Entrepreneurial Artist: Paint A Picture, then Commit It to Canvas

James had an original concept and he needed an investor.... Read More

How Entrepreneurs Make Money Selling Global Brands On and Off-line

Did you know that thousands of companies from all over... Read More

Entrepreneurship: What does it REALLY mean?

Introduction:In a world where ideas drive economies, it is no... Read More

Before the Business Plan

Purveyors of conventional wisdom would have you believe that the... Read More

The Reluctant Entrepreneur

It seems odd to think of a person opening a... Read More

Territory Limitations Policies for Franchised Companies

All franchised companies must have Territory Limitations to maintain the... Read More

The Cockroach Test

Let me ask you a question? Imagine I would offer... Read More

Traits of The Successful Entrepreneur

Want to know why certain people succeed and others don't.... Read More

The Use of Common Stock in Venture Capital Transactions

When raising capital for a business venture, a company can... Read More

How You Can Earn $1000 A Week Part Time

About 6 years ago I started to notice that certain... Read More

Chairman Greenspan and the FED, learn more you will be glad you did

So many people work their whole life to make money,... Read More

How To Grow Your Micro-Business

If you want to grow your micro-business (defined as a... Read More

Do You Want to Just Survive or Thrive? (Part 1)

You've probably heard this, or maybe you will relate to... Read More

The Entrepreneurs Dilemma

In business, you plan to protect your inventory, your unique... Read More

Entrepreneurs, Are You Hauling Buckets?

Once upon a time, there was a village on the... Read More

Top Ten Ways to Increase Your Profitability

1) Go back to basics. Take a couple of steps... Read More

5?4?3? 2...1?

A streak dating back more than three decades came to... Read More

Are You Ready To Be Your Own Boss?

You have this burning desire you want to be on... Read More

Is Now the Right Time to Become An Entrepreneur?

A number of economic changes are magnifying the role of... Read More

The Heroic Entrepreneur: Profiting from Your Brilliance

If you look up the definition of hero in Webster's,... Read More