Business Gratitude

Has your career development plan gone as you had envisaged? No? Nor mine! It is 2 the two year anniversary of the Daemon Career Coach business entity, and, never could I have imagined such fun! With this in mind I wish to share a quote with you that I stumbled accross that made me grin:

“And look, if you feel bad about being discouraging to someone, remember this: It’s actually impossible to discourage someone from their true calling. If they were meant to do it, if they can’t not pursue this calling, your rejection will be fuel. If they weren’t, they will thank you for releasing them from this self-made prison. And the world will be better off in both cases.” by Ryan Holiday in ‘f*ck your dreams’

Interestingly enough, setting out on this mission to build a coaching business, I did feel that sometimes there was evidence levelled-at me to suggest my enterprise was not viable. Phrases such as ‘You’ll never make a good living through coaching alone.” could have been a really negative influence. I chose however, to use this negativity, as a trigger to make it happen. Any time I heard that phrase I literally thought “I f*cking can!”, and, my resolve was further strengthened.

What some of these opinions also led me to do, was to choose very carefully whom I put my trust in. I did not gather mere ‘yay-sayers’ around me who would take the easy route and voice what they thought I wanted to hear. I rarely seek collision, except where chocolate is involved! What I have gathered around me are those who have experienced success themselves and people who who can see the potential in me. These are individuals who bring knowledge and integrity, and who were courageous enough to gently (and kindly), point out the pitfalls to me. This has been a holistic career development plan.

So this is why “no woman and not business is an island”. The notion of Sole-Trader was terrifying one because it led me to that place in myself where I would have to do it all on my own. No! Never try to to do this with regards to a longterm project. Even if you are skilled in all the business sectors required for an enterprise, this is not sustainable in the long run. Doing business all alone leads to burn-out.

What this business entity is surrounded with instead, is a whole array of talented and generous individuals, who journey alongside me. My career development plan clearly needed to involve others. There are fellow coaches who cheer me on and supervisors who enable me to work my way out of the emotional culdersacs that I find myself spinning around in. There are business mentors who reassured me and kindly point out the less productive of my behaviours. There are clients who keep in touch and nourish our relationship with celebrations and milestones achieved. There are people who have guided me though the finances, and individuals who have patiently educated me about website design, SEO and marketing. There are my long-suffering friends who encourage me and who show endless tolerance as they listen to me ramble on about new business delights…! There are leadership development mentors who nourish me with delightful bits of new information and ‘the knowing’ that all things are possible. There is family who ‘kind of knew I could do it’, before I did and have held my dream for me. There are those colleagues and peers and other professionals who know exactly how scary it is to go it alone, and who have refused to let me do so! Thank you – I owe you more than I can put into words.

So no business entity is an island. Business is sharing and generosity and it is joy! Who knew work could be SO Good! This career development plan has, with the input of many, way exceeded my expectations. Thus I know success to be possible for you.

Explore here to learn more of career coaching with Rebecca and here for a glimpse into her coaching world.