Are you playing too small?

My kids teach me so much about life and business. Let me tell you a quick story and you’ll see what I mean.

My older son is entering 8th grade next year and was faced with a tough decision. He has been in a great school the past 2 years, but it’s not challenging him very much.

So I applied to get him into another middle school that will be more challenging, and better prepare him for high school.

But I decided to leave it up to him as to which school he would attend next year. Big decision!

We toured the new school together and I asked him what he thought. He basically said that he’s been coasting the past 2 years and, even though it will be a lot more work, he wants to attend the new school so he’ll be ready for high school.

Wow! I was pretty blown away. I mean, he’s always been a mature boy but this kind of thinking for a 13 year old really inspired me.

He is ready to step up and work hard so he can get to where he needs to go. He is NOT playing small!

It got me thinking about myself and my clients.

I know there are times I’ve chosen to play small in my business. Sometimes it was a mindset issue and sometimes it was about prioritizing family over work.

I’ve tackled many of the mindset issues (although trust me, they crop up at every stage of your business), and am totally okay with putting my kids before my business.

I’m ready to play a bigger game and am willing, like my son, to do the work to get me there. Because I know that the work I do with my clients is incredibly valuable, and I owe it to them (and myself) to put myself out there in an even bigger way.

Then today, on a group coaching call, two of my clients talked about how they hesitate to put themselves out there. They want the visibility and the clients but they were holding themselves back. Playing small. Making excuses.

As we coached through it, they realized what a disservice they’re doing to the very people they’re here to help. They have the solutions and can transform people’s lives. So how selfish would it be to keep their gifts to themselves?

When was the last time you said no to an idea or an investment to grow your business? When was the last time you listened to advice from people who really don’t have the expertise to help you because you’re grasping for answers?

I’m here to tell you that you already have the answers within you. Yes, you sometimes need the support and systems to pull those answers out of you. We all do.

But stop looking outside yourself for all the answers. Start trusting your own voice and knowledge as you make decisions. It’s time to step up and put yourself out there in an even bigger way.

That might mean creating that program you’ve always wanted to create. Or doing a webinar. Or creating a Mastermind program. Or working with more joint venture partners.

One of the best ways to step up is to publicly announce your intentions. Leave a comment below and share what you’re doing or are going to do to step up your game. Go for it!  If you’re feeling stuck, then share what’s holding you back from playing a bigger game. We’re all here to support you!

If you want to speak with me privately about how I can help you step up then click here to apply for a Clarify and Create Planning Session.

Thanks for sharing – your input is really valuable!