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What You Must Let Go Of To Grow
December 8th, 2009 by Kendall
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I hear it all the time: “Kendall, I want to grow my business but I’m afraid I can’t handle it, given how I’m already stretched to the max. I don’t know how you do it all..help!”
First of all, let’s get real here. I DON’T “do it all.” No one could. So, start by letting yourself off the hook of having to live up to some “Barbie” standard of perfection that doesn’t exist in the real world.
If you’re feeling like you can’t handle more growth it’s likely because you’re carrying around excess baggage, which means it’s time to do one of my favorite activities: let go to grow.
It’s simple, really. You can’t pour more into an already full cup. So, if you want to grow your business and create more freedom in your life you have to let go to create space for something new and exciting to present itself.
Now, letting go isn’t limited to just cleaning out a closet or getting caught up on your filing. Periodically, you have to let go of emotional baggage, including old wounds, goals that no longer inspire you, “shoulds” and anything that makes you feel guilty. Do so, and you’ll uplift your spirit and create an opening for exciting new opportunities to come your way.
Does this actually work? Yes! Years ago, I was reluctant to let go of what no longer served me, even if, on the “outside” it looked like it was working fine. Consequently, my business experienced very slow, frustrating growth.
Today, I’m celebrating my third year in a row of doubling my revenue and I’m looking forward to doing so again in 2010. Letting go to grow is a big help in making this kind of accelerated success possible.
So, to help you out, here’s a quick checklist of what you MUST let go of to grow.
Let Go Of…
Your Lowest Payoff Marketing Activities
If your lowest end marketing activities aren’t actively helping you build your list or get new clients then please, stop doing them. For example: I coached two different clients this year to stop giving away monthly free teleseminars. Both listened to my advice, which created a dramatic increase in their credibility and their perceived value. The result? Both doubled their income this year.
Letting go of your lowest payoff marketing activities allows you to create higher level programs and service offers. The payoff here? Big!
Feeling Guilty That You’re Not Giving More
Understand that your feeling guilty has nothing to do with your clients needing more but is instead, a deservability issue for you. Stop telling yourself you need to give more and instead start adding up all of the ways in which you help your clients reach their desired results.
Letting go of guilt frees up oodles of your energy and creativity, allowing you to grow with ease and speed.
One Person Who’s Draining Your Energy
This may be the toughest to let go of but when you do, you’ll feel the biggest relief. People who drain you are doing more than just taking up your time. They’re crowding your creative space, demanding too much of your attention and are keeping you from moving forward. Remember this: they represent the old you, not the new you that is wanting to come forth. So, stop the drama and establish a clear boundary so they’re no longer part of your life. Just like ripping off a bandage, I recommend making the break a clean, fast one.
Letting go of someone who is draining will feel like you’ve taken ten years off of your life and lifted a hundred pounds of “guilt weight” off of your heart!
At Least One Old Excuse That’s Been Holding You Back From Taking Action
Excuses are just the voice of fear trying to keep you stuck. Quickest way to grow is to ignore the excuse and instead, ask what is the worst that could happen if you move forward. Likely, the answer is something that’s not that bad, and certainly something you can handle.
Letting go of an excuse gives you permission to say “Yes” to a new opportunity, create a new program or service or to try something new with your business.
Here’s A Secret: You Must Let Go BEFORE You Know What Will Fill The Space
Waiting until you know what you want to do, what an end result will be or how something will work out before you let go doesn’t work. You must take the leap BEFORE you know. The good news is, once you do, new opportunities, resources and mentors will present themselves to you almost instantly.
Remember this: The bigger the space you create by letting go, the more you’ll step forward powerfully and confidently into greater success, energy and purpose with your business.
Posted in Money and Mindset • • Subscribe to this feed
Tags: Courage, money mindset, Success, women entrepreneurs
Kendall, I get confused - 50% of the coaches say you have to give things away to get clients, such as an irresistable opt-in on your website, or info at a free lecture, and yet I read this blog and you say no! I’m not sure what to do on this issue.
Comment by Angela Minelli — December 8, 2009 @ 6:37 pm
Great article Kendall.
It’s all about trusting ourselves enough to let go of whatever we think we need to hold onto in order to take that leap into the beautiful unknown. I’m convinced that when we find the courage to let go, we don’t go down we go up!
Much thx, Giulietta, Inspirational Rebel
Comment by Giulietta Nardone — December 8, 2009 @ 6:42 pm
This is very wise and timely advice. Exactly what I needed to hear! Thanks Kendall.
Comment by Monique Caradine — December 8, 2009 @ 7:14 pm
Thank you for this timely article. My list for this year was just completed with letting go of my marriage, career (in the way I knew it) and residence. I am looking forward to the great streams of energy flooding in…
Comment by Lilian — December 8, 2009 @ 8:40 pm
Great article Kendall! I’ve been doing a lot of “letting go” this year by delegating a lot of my daily tasks to other very capable team members so that I can focus on my own sacred gifts. I still have some more to let go but your article is a great reminder that I’m on the right path and gives some extra insight on what more needs to be done.
Sharing your sacred gift with others is truly wonderful and greatly appreciated.
Susan
President, eVision Media
eBusiness & Web Development
Comment by Susan Friesen — December 8, 2009 @ 10:24 pm
Hi Angela,
It may seem overwhelming and contradicting…so first take a deep breathe.
Yes, it’s still true that it’s important to have a juicy freebie offer to entice your people to opt-in your mailing list. What Kendall says is that you create space for more things to come in your life and for you to focus on higher payoff activities.
Like I say to my clients at http://StopEntrepreneuOverwhelm.com, If creating an info-product, giving free talks and free teleseminars, etc are stopping you from connecting with people and getting clients, then postpone doing them. Right now, they are your lowest payoff marketing activities. Maybe a higher pay off marketing activity for you right now is going to networking events or asking for referrals. It all depends on what stage you are in your business right now. Or perhaps there’s just something you have to tweak to make your existing marketing activities produce a higher payoff.
Hope that clarifies things a bit for you.
Refreshingly Yours,
Trissa
Comment by Trissa Tismal — December 8, 2009 @ 10:27 pm
6.Hi Angela,
It may seem overwhelming and contradicting…so first take a deep breathe.
Yes, it’s still true that it’s important to have a juicy freebie offer to entice your people to opt-in your mailing list. What Kendall says is that you create space for more things to come in your life and for you to focus on higher payoff activities.
Like I say to my clients at http://StopEntrepreneurOverwhelm.com, If creating an info-product, giving free talks and free teleseminars, etc are stopping you from connecting with people and getting clients, then postpone doing them. Right now, they are your lowest payoff marketing activities. Maybe a higher pay off marketing activity for you right now is going to networking events or asking for referrals. It all depends on what stage you are in your business right now. Or perhaps there’s just something you have to tweak to make your existing marketing activities produce a higher payoff.
Hope that clarifies things a bit for you.
Refreshingly Yours,
Trissa
Comment by Trissa Tismal — December 8, 2009 @ 10:29 pm
Hi Kendall and thank you.
This was a very timely article as I’m going through this at the moment. It’s interesting that just as I start to notice resistance about ‘letting go’ and try to cling onto old ways, I see this article and have the same message coming through to me from other people as well - it was one of the messages from the teleseminar Bernadette Doyle held last night.
Great article.
Angela - I think what’s meant is if something’s not producing results, stop doing it and focus on what IS generating the results you want. Lots of people give away great content in free teleseminars without making the people attending any kind of offer or way to get more. Free teleseminars do work provided there is a promotional element to it and a call to action. Running free teleseminars for PR purposes only can be draining and unproductive.
Warm wishes
Hannah
Comment by Hannah McNamara — December 9, 2009 @ 2:40 am
Hi Kendall,
As an organizer, your words are very clear to me. When you start letting go, then you are freeing up space (physical or emotional)and allowing energy to flow.
You don’t have to completely re-fill the space, but you will most likely notice that you CHOOSE, with greater discretion, what you allow to take up your time and place in your environment. You are the one in control of your situation!
Your letting go to grow articles are my favorites, of course! (Especially since it is what I preach to my clients.)
Comment by Melody — December 9, 2009 @ 3:42 am
Loved this article- and the theme of letting go, brings quick shifts in energy and actually allows space for the new to flow to us.
I like this advice for my overeating/binge-eater clients as all of these steps create “lighter” energy that allows more forward movement.
Thanks kendall-
in love and service,
Lisa
http://www.IntuitiveBody.com
Breaking The Spell of Overeating: Results You Crave
Comment by Lisa Claudia Briggs — December 9, 2009 @ 7:16 am
Thanks Kendall for your timely article. Very clear and inspiring. Your observation on “One person who is draining your energy”-This is easier said than done. I feel that it depends a lot upon how we are brought up, Values and culture. However it is good to become aware that our own friend or family member may be one of them. It is very natural to feel the drain in energy, b’cos they are dear to us. However once we become aware and what we still want is clear (love them and be loved), we can learn ways and methods to overcome the drain in energy. In my personal experience daily practice of EFT, Yoga, affirmations, meditations help tremendously in letting go of the drain in energy, but still continue to accept the loved ones as they are.
Comment by Lalitha Brahma — December 9, 2009 @ 9:00 am
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Pingback by Tarot Idag » Blog Archive » Halvfull eller halvtom? — December 11, 2009 @ 2:26 am
Kendall,
Great article and advice. It’s helpful to be reminded that we can give ourselves permission to let go of fears and energy zappers that stunt our growth.
Comment by Christine Prelaz — December 12, 2009 @ 9:14 am
Hi All, Just to clarify what Angela was asking about, Yes, you want to let go of whatis not producing results. Most entrepreneurs give away a TON of free content w/ no strategy in place as to HOW they are going to accomplish some very practical, and much need things, such as growing their list or seeding for future offers.
I mentor my clients to ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS have a clear “next step” outcome you are clear about no matter what you are giving away. Offerinig a free teleseminar and hoping that ppl will join your list is not a clear next step. This is my secret to giving away a ton of good info yet still consistently growing my business by leaps. I hope this helps clarify! ((-:
Love and brilliance (and many blessings to you!),
Kendall
PS - For all of you coaches reading this, or if you’re thinking about adding coaching to your business then you simply MUST join me this Thursday, Dec 17th at 8pm Eastern for a free telesem I’m delivering titled:
“What Clients Want:
How to Make Yourself Irresistible, In-demand
and Highly Paid as a Coach in Today’s Market”
Specifically, in this call I’ll cover IN DETAIL:
* The biggest mistake even seasoned coaches make that sabotages their in.come AND their desire to help greater numbers of people
* What clients want right now — and are willing to pay a surprising amount of mo.ney to get
* Which is the hottest, fastest growing niche in coaching (and how, if you’re not getting in on this now, you’re likely to be passed by forever)
* Why coaching is a “must offer” for every business, even if you don’t think of yourself as a coach
* Why coaching tops info products, membership programs and other info streams as THE most lucrative…but only IF it’s done right (don’t worry, I’ll share what the right way is –in detail)
To join me for this free call simply dial in this info:
~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*
Bridge #: 507-726-3200
PIN #: 91355
When: Thursday, December 17, 2009
Time: 8pm Eastern (NY time)
(that’s 7pm CST /6pm MST /5pm PST)
No opt-in required.
Just come to this F.R.E.E. call as my guest.
~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*
Comment by Kendall SummerHawk — December 14, 2009 @ 8:11 pm