If YOU Distrust “this”, It’s HOLDING YOU BACK. (Let’s embrace it instead.)

I’m not sure why we distrust FAST…. but we do.  BOY DO WE EVER distrust “fast.” 

Nothing has taught me this more than publicly announcing that I was losing weight – FAST – on the diet prescribed by http://www.cr500dietconsultants.com. To date, I am 18.5 pounds down… and only 10 pounds from my goal weight.  It’s been 23 days.

Yes, this is fast.  No, this is not sustainable as a lifestyle.  Yes, it’s a quick fix.  But — YES — for me, it’s also a sustainable fix.  More on that later.

As soon as I announced “my loss,” I was hit with two things:

1) An abundance of people offering me their plans instead.  Shakes, meal replacements, etc.   Here’s the thing, I’d already tried most of them.  They didn’t work for me.

2) An over-abundance of people warning me against this (apparently very dangerous) notion of FAST.  =)

It was then that I remembered my own business mentor recommending FAST over SLOW.  I remember it vividly because as I was contemplating a more “reasonable” or “acceptable” growth plan for my business, I knew I’d never make it.  I knew I’d lose steam, stay frustrated and — probably — throw in the towel, like so many others in my industry.  Like I’d done so many times before with my quest for “weight loss.”

My mentor encouraged me that fast was BETTER than slow.  It was THEN that he encouraged me to try to “Add a Zero” to my income…. a TEN TIMES increase.  And, it was THEN that I did just that.  In 3 months, added a Zero.   And, instead of quickly losing what I quickly gained, I built on it.  I leveraged it into MORE.  And I did it (very deliberately) with speed.

Here’s what I’ve learned about SPEED:

In many cases, fast is preferable to slow.  In business, my experience — and that of my clients — leads me to believe that money is ATTRACTED to speed and repelled by slow. If you ever want to meet a broke business owner, look for the perfectionist in the group… the one contemplating each and every word, the one who won’t launch until it’s perfect, the one “pacing themselves.”  They slow things down and their cash flow is stymied.  Never good.

My advice?

1. Figure out what you’re up to.
2. Name your goals specifically,  and then:
3. FIGURE OUT the fastest, most direct route to each one.  (Seriously, brainstorm this.  Have you ever taken the time to consider the FASTEST route to your business goal?)

But, can’t FAST be dangerous?  Risky?  Quickly reversed?

Yes.  It can be.  But only if you ignore the (very necessary) foundational work to success.  

For my weight loss, I didn’t jump into the http://www.cr500dietconsultants.com diet without heavy consideration — AND WORK.  First, I worked with an EFT guru named Laurel.  (No matter your goal, you OWE it to yourself to AT LEAST speak to her once.) She helped me uncover “reasons behind” my weight gain.  THOSE were some very surprising and revealing conversations! =)  She  — again — affirmed the value of fast… and added that my goal could be achieved without me “carrying such a big stick” and making it hard and difficult!  =) (Thanks, Laurel!)  Only THEN did I decide to get rid of this weight for good.

Since being on the program, I’ve learned even more.  Yes, it’s an easy program.  I’m not hungry.  I’m not tired or irritable.  And I don’t have to think much about the diet itself.  BUT — because fast AND sustainable — is my goal, I’ve approached this plan as such.  I’ve noted my “danger times,” and figured out little tricks… like how to bake scrumptious cookies for the family and not eat any.  =) I discovered that I didn’t lack WILLpower. I lacked WANTpower.  =) In short, my foundation for loss was set before I used this diet as a tool.  I have no doubt I’ll not only sustain my loss, but continue losing when this 30-day plan is over.

In business, the same is true.  FAST is preferable… as long as you have a strong foundation. What MUST be part of your foundation prior to getting in the fast lane?

1) Emotional or relational neediness must be eliminated or held firmly in check. NOTHING holds you back from financial success like emotional neediness or a desperate need for affirmation.

2) A strong economic foundation.  I don’t mean a lot of money. I mean a strong economic plan that makes sense.  This includes your pricing and your “packaging”. In other words, will selling what you do — for the prices you do — get you to where you want to be income-wise? Your numbers have to make sense.

3) A better than strong, almost unreasonable work ethic.  You have to be willing to do what others aren’t…. wake up early, stay up late…. willing to do whatever it takes to reach your goals!

Here’s to life in the FAST lane! =)