In order to have the confidence and trust in yourself to really make your business goals a reality, from time to time, you need to take a few steps back, get quiet, and “listen” to what your intuition is telling you.
Let me share a story that explains this idea.
About 20 years ago, I set out to create the framework and programs for my first Solopreneur business – Vision Street. A friend of mine had offered to let me use her cottage up north for a few days as a retreat so I could be undisturbed and have a quiet place to unleash my creativity!
Well, after 2 days of isolation I went into a negative spiral because nothing was happening – no creativity or inspiration – all I was unleashing was frustration and I was climbing the walls! So I left the cottage 2 days early in utter frustration and despair as my dream of creating my own business felt like it was slipping away.
Then despair turned to anger. I recall walking into the garden behind my apartment and pleaded with God (my higher power) to help me – how could you have brought me this far only to be frozen in my tracks? I felt so disconnected and paralyzed! Then in one perfect moment I had a blinding insight – it felt like a soft feather had touched me the on my shoulder and gave me perfect clarity.
My insight
How can I (little old me) possibly know all the answers – how could I possibly know every situation and every aspect of every situation to be able to make the right decisions for myself and for everyone concerned? How can I possibly know all the answers… I can’t… BUT I know the questions… and the universe, God, all that is – can provide the answers. That insight hit me with such clarity and power and I felt such inspired energy – that I spent the next three hours asking questions.
Ask questions about everything
I wrote out every question I could possibly think of. Questions about the business I was seeking to create, my life, my relationship, my future, my living situation. I couldn’t stop. And I haven’t stopped since. In fact formulating and asking great, thoughtful, powerful questions has become my primary means for success in EVERY aspect of my life. I use them to prepare for client meetings, conduct interviews, create and expand my businesses, as a Sales Performance Consultant, buying and managing real estate, getting insights on important life decisions….. and developing deep relationships with others.
I ask great questions! The universe, God (our brains) provide the answers! In fact your brain is so sophisticated it is designed to not stop until it provides you an answer – every time!
How can you do it, too?
The most powerful methodology I have used to find solutions, to determine right actions, to make seemingly small as well as important decisions is to do the following exercise and what I call simply “Ask and you will Receive”.
I use this exercise to “Journal”, to vent when I’m angry or frustrated, and to create huge breakthroughs no matter what problem I am facing or what I’m trying to create in my business and life.
Here’s how to find the solution to any problem:
In doing this exercise, you gain unparalleled confidence and peace of mind that you have put your trust in a higher power or higher energy (or your highly sophisticated brain) to provide you the perfect solution. You don’t have to do it yourself. You will receive the answers. And my experience is that the answers come at the perfect time and in perfect order.
When you have run out of questions to ask and you feel you have “vented” sufficiently, the next step in the process is to create a new set of questions that are similar to affirmations. Write these new questions and ask them as if you’ve already achieved the result. For example, using the scenario above you could ask questions such as:
Use this process every day or at least several times a week to gain clarity on every aspect of your life. I do it most mornings as a way to gain clarity around my daily tasks and to create synchronistic event after synchronistic event… every day! And, if you have ever thought about starting your own business but have been afraid of the unknown, grab your journal and ASK – you will receive insight as to whether it is a good decision for you and how to make it happen!
Let me know what happened when you used the exercise “Ask and you will Receive”. Did you find the solution to a problem?
Using exercises to center yourself and developing an efficient strucure around your business are both great approaches to helping you gain traction in the marketplace. Download our free 6 Unexpected Strategies of Highly Successful Consultants to find out more.
Kim Chernecki helps high-performing freelance executives, consultants, coaches and other experts, land lucrative corporate contracts. She is the creator of the Land Corporate Contracts Fast-Track System, and is a top-rated sales performance executive, facilitator, coach, advisor, speaker and strategist. A 25-year entrepreneur, Kim has consulted with executives from 100+ leading North American and Fortune 1000 companies and has, herself, started up and helped grow 10 businesses and business divisions. She’s closed millions of dollars in corporate contracts, and provides powerful strategies and proven formulas to help her clients do the same.
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