Small Business Revitalization Blog

Have you ever been in a place where you knew there was something more to life, but you didn’t know what was missing?  Up until my late twenties I always felt something driving me, showing me the next part of the puzzle, but not really knowing what it all meant.  For someone who is pretty good at connecting dots, I thought I must have collected a few bits from other people’s puzzles by mistake!  There weren’t many visionary insights happening… and my purpose was as clear as mud.

Then in my thirties, I knew clearly I was here for a greater purpose, but still had no idea of where to start in connecting it all together.  This was a time when I explored many different ideas and jobs, looking without success for the place where I ‘fit’ with ease and joy.

Fortunately, by the time I turned 40, I had gained a whole lot of clarity (thanks to a Life Direction reading with a very talented psychic) and in the past couple of years have made massive steps towards living my bliss every single day. (It’s true; life really does begin at 40!!)

This week I had a strong sense I needed a big cleanup. So I went through all of my old notebooks and journals and cleared out everything that was not energetically aligned with where I am going.  What was truly fascinating was to see, so many times, how I had written about parts of my purpose, but without actually recognizing the significance of what I’d discovered.  When I combine that with awareness of how so many of my jobs and life experiences have prepared me for precisely what I’m doing, it all starts to become a little spooky!!  It seems I knew a whole lot more than I thought!!

So, if you don’t know what to do with your life here’s my ‘in hindsight’ thoughts on speeding up that process of discovery…

•   Take note of ideas that repeatedly arise… I’ve known since I was about 27 that I would have a career as a writer… but being the sensitive soul that I am, wasn’t brave enough to write anything much until I was 40 and it became really clear that writing was a requirement for my bliss, rather than an ‘optional extra’.

•   Write (!) a journal regularly and use it to explore what you most love.  When I saw all those small snippets of ideas I’d had, my purpose began to seem so obvious to me – how could I not have seen it?  Most often your purpose is connected with what brings you joy and happiness… of course, you can choose to suffer, but why would you if your path could be filled with bliss instead?


•   Think about all of the things that are easy for you. Often what is easy for you is difficult for others… don’t think too hard, but maybe there are some money-making possibilities here for you?  Also, have you noticed that a lot of people spend their entire life doing stuff that is hard or challenging rather than interesting and joyful?  What if you were here to have an easy life where you do what comes naturally… would that be a whole lot more fun?  

•   Spend time being creative… even if you think you aren’t! (Maybe your definition is a little too narrow – creative and artistic are two different things!)  Creative energy feeds your soul and enables you to explore the non-linear/non-logical parts of your life.  Generally this is where those synchronistic connections are made and you discover the missing bits of the puzzle.

•   Follow your intuition.  Many sensitive people find their environment so overstimulating and overwhelming that intuition gets thrown out the window in favour of being a control freak of magnitude.  When I follow the energy each day and ask questions about “what’s next?” my life and business flow with ease.  When I try to control what’s happening, often nothing does!

All of these ideas sound simple, but when you put them together, they create a very powerful flow of blissful living in purposeful ways.  So, when you think about your purpose now, do you go “oooooohh Yeah!”  or “Oh Hell!”?  It’s just a choice you know.  (Because you do know… deep inside you it is all there, just waiting for you to recognize it.)

Many people I coach want to focus on the tactics… the ‘how’ of what they are doing ( eg those really big decisions, like ‘will I use Facebook or Twitter?’).  The truth is, tactics are easily copied by your competitors, but a really smart strategy is a lot more difficult to ‘borrow’. 

Building a strong business starts with smart strategies… finding those ‘AHA’ pieces that deliver the goods for your business… creating  ideas that are hard to copy because they come from  the heart… from the authentic core that drives your business vision.

Transforming an average business into an outstanding one is all about authenticity… buzz… and creativity.  Traditional strategic planning doesn’t exactly address these topics all that well, so I’m going to suggest you play with the Revive Business Coaching approach to strategic planning – I promise it will be a lot more fun!! 

Here’s a small taste of our process…  what would it take for you to answer these questions from your heart, rather from a space of what you think is possible?  When you allow your energy to soar, your business will rise with you!  Creating new potentials is what revitalizing your strategy enables…when we allow ourselves to dream audaciously and love new perspectives!

Authenticity:
•   If anything was possible, what would people most LOVE about your business?
Buzz:
•   What it would take for your business to transform your industry?
Creativity:
•   What could be possible if your vision was a thousand times bigger?

Tip:  Think BIG picture rather than small tactical choices… if your business could be phenomenal, what would it look like?  How would it change the world?

Want to re-energise your business strategy?  Click here to discover two great opportunities for more business bliss!

I love the magic of nature! From the depths of muddy swamps come the most stunning lotus flowers, held by stalks that bend with ease but rarely break no matter how much pressure is applied! 

When you feel like your business is sinking into a quagmire or your day has become a puddle of putridness, it’s time to depend on that central core of creativity and resilience that brings the beauty and brilliance back into your business.

Personally I have found that whenever my cashflow gets tight, it’s because I’m not allowing my creativity to shine through. (And I’m not talking about creative accounting here!)  Through observing my business closely, I have discovered that the energy of money and the energy of creativity seem to be closely aligned!  Sounds a little strange, but take a few moments to consider the possibilities…

When you are in a creative, exuberant, abundant space in your business you meet exactly the right people at exactly the right time, everything flows and you are a wellspring of ideas.  When you are feeling stressed, stretched and like it is all a struggle, you can’t connect or create with ease… people feel your distress and they stay away!

So how do you move from stressed and strungout to creative, connected and cashed up?  Here’s three simple tools that will allow you and your business to bloom like a lotus:

1. Nurture yourself first… do whatever it takes to have one hour a day for you and one day a week where you don’t for a moment think about work or business.  Make a list of playful, creative fun things and do whatever your body is asking of you each day… this creates the space for you to be the amazing creative abundant YOU that you truly are!
2. Take a few hours to revisit where your business is at (As a business coach I can help you do this if you would like a fresh perspective!) – so often we get caught up in the doing, that we forget to look at the stars and create new energy and new ideas for our projects… what can you create today that will bring abundance and joy to your life and business?
3. Do something different!  If what you’ve been doing isn’t working, it’s time for a change… Surprise and delight your customers… offer something new!  Take yourself to an event or activity you wouldn’t normally do… and discover a whole lot of new connections.  Find some new friends online and be generous in how you connect… there are endless opportunities, what will you do differently today?

So... let us all know how your blooming goes... the flatter your energy is the more important it is to have fun!  Creativity is an essential step in reviving yourself and your business!
The Revive Business Coaching May Playshop is all about money… if you are feeling stuck this is a great opportunity to do something different, change some perspectives on money and meet some fellow business owners in a creative, playful environment… What would it take for magic to show up in your business today?  Book here for ‘Show Me The Money’