There has been amazing support and feedback from this week’s announcement about my future path, and I wanted to share a quick story with you about why I’m so passionate about finding my true voice, and about helping you find yours.
Most people don’t know that I was searching for several months for a mentor who truly “got” what I wanted to do… build a business based on authenticity, but NEVER compromise myself in order to do so. I met some amazing people along the way, and continue meeting wonderful people every day.
Recently, I came across a potential mentor who had a program that would cost me more than $5,000. That’s a lot of fricking money to a working mom. Seriously, a LOT of moolah. But, I was looking at how to possibly afford it because I believed in the program and believed it would get me from point A to point B much more quickly than if I set out to learn all the stuff on my own. I’m not the most patient person, and I like to make things happen. So, I talked with my husband, and we figured out a way that, if I really believed it was the right program, we could “afford” it.
But, something didn’t feel quite right.
The program sounded phenomenal, but the person’s web page, social media, etc. didn’t really show me much about the person that I would be working with closely. I didn’t really know this person’s struggles, how real they were, or what made them tick. I didn’t know what they stood for, and didn’t see much interaction on social media about what they were all about.
Don’t get me wrong, I totally respect that a lot of people want to keep their lives private. I feel the same way a lot of the time. And the important things… ARE kept PRIVATE in my life too.
However, if you’re selling YOUR capabilities, and your business is YOU, people want to know who YOU are.
Not the great person who currently has successful six-figure or higher income. Not how much more you’ve made this month than you made over the entire last year. And, not how well you can capture beautiful moments on camera and post them onto your page (unless of course you are a photographer, but again, I digress).
People… all of our relationships in life… EVERYTHING we do… becomes much easier and 1,000% more purposeful when we use our real voice to speak our very real truth. You know, the truth about how damn tough it was to get the first sale or to break the $1,000 mark, or have the first month where you could support yourself or your entire family on just that income.
Or the truth about how, as a Mom, you have days where you feel like you’re gonna just pass out if one more person needs even ONE MORE THING from you, or how you feel totally clueless about how to take another step forward in any certain aspect of your life where you feel stuck… like a relationship, for example.
Or about how, as a man, you feel intense pressure to have the perfect job with the perfect income to keep your family afloat – and honestly, some months, you feel like you JUST BARELY do that.
We ALL STRUGGLE. No one is immune. That’s what makes us human.
So, have you ever really thought about what it’s costing you to not let your true voice be heard?
Are you giving up a $100, $1,000, or $5,000 or more client? Are you foregoing the possibility of not being stuck in a cubicle for the next 10, 20 or 30 more years? Are you preventing yourself from creating your own life on YOUR terms? Is it the truly, deeply passionate relationship that you seek but are too afraid to open up the real you in order to have, so you’ll never know what that kind of love feels like? Or is it, quite possibly, your OWN self… your sanity… your ability to speak up for yourself to stop the madness in your life that you are robbing yourself of?
When do you decide that enough is enough?
Great post! I believe success isn’t determined by how much money someone makes, it’s about who they are. I have known some really terrible people that were super rich and successful! It can be difficult to speak in our truth, because if it’s rejected, it can be emotionally devastating. However, being muted is worse! I really appreciate how honest you are!
Casey, thank you so much for the heartfelt reply. Being muted is a tragedy, and I believe we all have beauty and fire inside that need to come out.
Sadly, many people would rather stay in a boring, dead-end job than to follow their passion. Many people don’t even know what passion is! Thank you for a thought provoking article.
I totally agree! I do the same. I freelance for various business owners, all of which do not want to deviate one centimeter from the norm. I can’t take them any further even though I am their social media marketer and they wanted to make their brand more personable. Can’t make it personable when you only want to sound like everyone else. Such a struggle for people but it’s in my opinion and old school way of doing business. Online, recognition is key, personable brands boast better recognition and trust. Put a little personality into it, some self-sacrifice even, some human-ness for God’s sake!
The ending to this post is so powerful. You really made me think about some things going on with me. I am so happy to have found your website!