“When the student is ready, the teacher appears.” In my case, it has been more than one teacher, and oh-so-subtlely in my face. Look quick, or you might miss it!
At work this week, our wellness team invited in a presenter whose talk was about utilizing the strength of your personality. I was pretty busy, so almost didn’t go. So glad I did! The presenter’s company name is The Introvert Entrepreneur. Intriguing, to say the least, and the presentation was about Introverts and Extroverts, and how we can work with one another better instead of driving each other crazy. Good stuff, and the part that really stuck with me was how Introverts actually make very good leaders, speakers or facilitators because:
We can get a word in edgewise when we’re in front of an audience!
Sounds funny, but introverts are typically quiet by choice rather than because of fear. We process internally rather than externally like an extrovert. As a result, we may seem a bit standoffish or unfriendly, but honest! We’re just trying to make the response perfect, so we’re practicing in our heads.
Speaking of our heads, we introverts do tend to spend just a wee bit too much time in there, enjoying our own company, and playing head games that can stop us before we start. Then we start to wonder if we’re really cut out for entrepreneurship, and before you know it, there’s the fear demon.
Which brings me to my second teacher-of-the-week. This very important learning came to me via an email message sent through Facebook. I don’t know Jason Westlake well, but we had a commonality with another company, and he has struck out on his own the last couple of years. What he shared about that experience totally hit home for me, because I’ve been guilty of all of the things he wrote:
“A key element in my growth was learning how not to be needy. How not to need clients. How not to need the money. Even though I strongly desired to build a business. I used to say “I’m available 24/7 for coaching. I’ll lower my price. I'll barter. I’ll coach anyone on any problem you have. Sure!” What I was really saying was “I’m really needy” and “I’ll bend over backward if you'll just give me money.”
Nothing repels clients like neediness. Nothing attracts clients quicker than confidence and service. I struggled to let go of my client and money neediness. With practice, I slowly built my confidence and let go of my neediness over time.”
I am still struggling to let go of my neediness and build confidence. What I am confident about is that as I continue through the TBAH certification program I will be doing lots of pieces of work around these two subjects, and breaking through a lot of the barriers that have kept me from success in the past. I can feel it, somewhere between the knots in my stomach .
Here’s one more little nugget from Jason (you can find him on Facebook – Jason Westlake, Taipei, Taiwan):
“I used to fret before every phone call and stutter during conversations. I used to try to explain the benefits of my coaching. Getting clients felt salesy, and it felt hard.
But then someone told me that sales conversations should be very natural. So natural that it should feel just like a coaching session. Instead of selling, I began to just coach people while in conversations. I would listen. I would be deeply interested in them. I would really serve them and make a difference for them.
And I was shocked how naturally clients came to me after that. I didn’t have to sell. I just coached them, and they wanted to become clients.”
Be authentic. Be you. Be in Service, with Heart. Doesn’t get any better than that.
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