Take the Pressure Off: What's Actually in Your Control?
“I just don’t know what to do next” she said, slumping into the chair at the table across from me.
There’s literally a dozen different things screaming for my attention, all of them feel urgent, and most feel important. The clients I have need me now, but new enquiries have dropped off so I know I have to get leads in the pipeline or I’m going to hit that place where everything stops and then I’ll be kicking myself for not having done anything!
But it feels like there are so many (insert type of business here) out there, how can I get head and shoulders above them to actually reach new clients?
“Arrghhhhhhhhhhhh!!!”.
This is a combination of the sentiments business owners have always shared with me, but in the past few months the feelings of pressure have definitely ramped up.
And if you also happen to be sparky-brained, decision fatigue hits even harder. Our brains are already processing multiple thoughts, and when everything feels urgent and important, the overwhelm can be paralysing. We can get stuck deeper in analysis paralysis than our peers, or ping-pong between tasks without finishing any of them. Radical clarity is usually the antidote for all my clients, about what's actually in your control right now, in this moment, and especially vital for my fellow sparkies!
What’s in your control?
The economy aside, the paradox of choice can be paralysing. Too many options can lead to decision fatigue, where we end up making no decision at all or second-guessing every move we make.
I’m certainly not immune to these feelings, but a session with one of my advisors last week helped me clear my head and her wisdom is well worth sharing.
“Back to basics – what’s in your control and what’s out of your control”? she asked.
She reminded me to stop projecting into the future (that’s when anxiety kicks in) or comparing to the past (that’s when dejection can be found lurking) as those are places I have no control over.
But right now, today, in this moment, I have all the control I need.
I can choose to take strategic action today that may well lead to welcoming wonderful new clients into my world down the line, but I need to detach from the expectations of that result.
Here’s how that looks in practice.
I regularly host Connectworking breakfasts and dinners in Sydney and Canberra and in other states when I’m travelling. These are events I love holding and are a part of my Aligned Marketing philosophy.
What’s Aligned Marketing I hear you say!?
It's marketing with three core components baked in - strategies that:
Align with the core of your business model
Align with your strengths, values, personal style and preferences
Reflect the experience people will have with you when they are your clients.
So, my Insight Table Events:
Align with my intimate business model, a low volume and high retention structure with a service suite that provides deep access to me with one-on-one strategy and mentoring work and in small group settings at business retreats.
Leverage several of my key strengths and values (connector, inclusion, curiosity, growth, love of learning) and personal style (relaxed and welcoming). This makes them easy for me to consistently implement because I enjoy them so much
Provide my guests with a great experience in and of itself, and they also provide a very real taste of the experience of working with me
But, even with all of those boxes being ticked, I still cannot expect or guarantee that someone who joins us will subsequently choose to work with me. I leave those expectations at the door and focus on creating a great atmosphere, facilitating valuable discussions and encouraging connection between my guests because that’s where I have true power, in the moment.
From pressure to present power
Back to my Mentor. She asked about where my most recent clients came from. I shared that:
One had been referred to me by someone who had been at one of my dinners, but had not attended one herself
One had been to a dinner several months ago and decided now was the time to get in contact
Another had been referred by a client after she had approached my client for help and was told “you don’t need me, you need Angela”.
We discussed how I had no real control over any of these scenarios.
The only things I actually had control over were:
My decision to develop, choose and commit to implementing a marketing strategy that aligns with who I am and thus increase the likelihood of consistent implementation and
My development of a business model with services that also leverage my strengths and skills so I’m in my sweet spot delivering great work and delighting my clients so they confidently refer me
On one hand, recognising that we ultimately have no control over a lot of aspects of our business (and of course the economy) could be horrifying, but it can also be liberating. It depends on how you decide to view things.
I choose to feel off the hook from the pressure, and to instead embrace the power I have in the present moment.
And you can too... exhale!
Start with clarity
Developing an Aligned Marketing approach makes good business sense but before you go there, can I encourage you to work on gaining clarity in a few other spots first, so everything begins to click into place.
Financial Clarity – your revenue pie, breaking down the contribution ratio of your services so you have clarity on your most profitable options
Services Clarity - consider how each of your services serves you, your clients and your business so you can make choices about what to continue, start, stop, and refine.
Growth Clarity – use these insights and others to pinpoint the best areas in your business for potential growth now
Clarity isn’t just about knowing what to do next; it’s about understanding the why behind each action and making sure your choices align with your bigger vision and the strengths, values and skills of you and your team.
Regularly taking time for a deliberate pause to see where you are and where you next want to head is an essential part of building, and growing, a sustainable business.
Developing an Aligned Marketing approach makes good business sense, but getting clear on what's in your control starts with understanding your patterns, your strengths, and where you're trying to control outcomes you can't actually control.
That's exactly the kind of clarity work I do with my one to one Business Mentoring clients and at the heart of my approach in The Ignite Business Community.
We identify what's actually in your control versus what you're carrying unnecessary pressure about. Then we'll design marketing strategies that align with who you are, so implementation becomes easier and more consistent.
If you’re ready to take the pressure off yourself, let’s connect for a catalyst conversation and explore how I can help.
