I think we’ve all had this happen. We go to a retreat, a mastermind, an event… and we — safely ensconced in a room of our peers, a mentor and a supportive, encouraging environment — sketch out a “new plan.”
We plan BIG. We feel empowered to dream big, we announce what we’re up to and are applauded for our big, hairy, audacious goals. And we COMMIT — internally and to the group — to going home and PLAYING big. We commit to staying the course, to making “it” happen.
And then we go home. And that BOLD BEING that wrote down that plan? That persistent optimist? we wonder who she was… what she was thinking. Because when we get home, we are often left “to ourselves.” And busyness takes over…. again. Doubts slip in…. again. The “What if” questions are quickly replaced with “probably not” assumptions… again.
By the way, this isn’t what’s WRONG with live events, people. It’s what’s RIGHT with them. (JOIN me at my next event… which IS going to be the best thing I’ve EVER EVER done professionally!) Because live events REMOVE us from the busyness. They EMPOWER us with encouragement. They EQUIP us with support. And they ENCOURAGE us to play big.
So, don’t go home and lie to yourself. Don’t blame the person who held the event. Don’t blame your BIG PLAN on getting carried away in the moment. Don’t think that your event-inspired plan was a work of fiction. Here’s the truth:
THAT girl, the one with the big, hairy AUDACIOUS goal.. THAT girl was the real you — unadulterated by doubt and hesitation.
THAT girl is thinking straight. THAT girl is who you ARE — when you’re not bogged down by everyday “busyness,” by the (very skewed) reports on your local and national news, by the naysayers.
So, I URGE you to go back to that old notebook you took notes on during that last event… find that plan — as I did this weekend — and dust it off. Look at it with FRESH eyes. And realize that the creator of THAT plan is the REAL you…
Don’t play smaller than your most audacious plan. =)
I’m here playing along side of you. So, let me know what plan YOU dusted off. Tell me what you’re UP TO. And let me support you.
Here’s to US… to being UNREASONABLE in our goals… to attempting the IMPOSSIBLE… to making it Happen… to playing BIG!
Hell yeah! I love this part: Here’s to US… to being UNREASONABLE in our goals
That makes me think of stubbornly pursuing our goals no matter how small others around us are thinking! One of my biggest challenges was doing my thing with naysayers – had to push through that and keep on keepin’ on.
Michelle,
I so relate. I’ve been to many live events and in the past, I’ve experienced that downer of coming home to my “real” life that has both responsibilities and distractions. I myself discovered I really needed an accountability partner or even a coach to keep me on track. Of course, results tell the whole story, so those often push me todo more or be more. Yet, I have a part of me that knows my vision will come to fruition according to the right timing (I’m a student of the universal laws, but believe in sweat too.) 🙂
Hey Michelle –
THIS, is exactly where I’ve been lately.
“And busyness takes over…. again. Doubts slip in…. again. The “What if” questions are quickly replaced with “probably not” assumptions… again.”
So THIS brought tears to my eyes.
“THAT girl, the one with the big, hairy AUDACIOUS goal.. THAT girl was the real you — unadulterated by doubt and hesitation.”
Because I find myself thinking, why in the world am I doing all this? It would be so much simpler to just do my job, earn a paycheck, go home and read a book. Take a day off -which I never seem to have. 🙂 There’s no reason why I couldn’t do perfectly well with a perfectly regular life – and job – and…. well, you get the picture.
But I can’t seem to stay in that place for long, so I always come back and take a few more steps, do a few more things, move a little further forward. And I have small successes. Then I stall out. Then I try again. And I have a few more successes. And so on. And so on.
Your words are so needed by so many who doubt. I try to help women I see as so courageous find their way to own what they already have and claim the confidence they’re entitled to. Believe in themselves. Persist. Grow. And know that they can. But sometimes, I guess I need to hear that message myself.
So thanks. Looking forward to a day in person with you soon.
~Wendy
Retreats and conferences can be such great motivators and boosters. And you’re right – it can be hard to maintain that optimism and momentum once you’re back in the old groove. I think that setting a series of small goals against the ideas that came out an event is one way to keep from losing that energy. Even though we think big, we often have to start with small steps to build up to where we want to be. Once we’re at home, faced with that big vision, it can be daunting if we don’t have baby steps to help us get there.
Yey! let’s be unreasonable! That’s so true about after-events effect when life happens and our inspiration from the event wears off. and it makes us believe that we’ve been on so many events and there is no return on the investment.
I believe in the power of consistency, even you are doing baby steps every day you’ll get results faster and better rather than big leaps from time to time.
At the moment all my notebooks are packed into boxes ready to be shift to a new home, there I’m going to unpack them and create a day by day plan to make my dreams come true and to dream big.
Thanks Michelle for inspiration 🙂
I can so relate to this. Removing myself from my everyday environment results in huge things being accomplished.
And it’s important to create a support structure with other solo and entrepreneurs where there can be mutual support so we will all realize our big dreams and goals.
Thank you for the great timing on this! I returned home from a conference…. then realized that conference was a month ago and I’ve fallen into my bad habits and gotten away from those “real you” plans. My notes from that conference are constantly with me in my bag/briefcase… time to dig ’em out with gusto, read ’em, and implement!
I am actually planning a week long solo-vacation to a cabin on the North Shore for just this reason. I need to do some soul searching and get a good solid grip on everything that I want to accomplish this year and in the next 5, 10 years! GREAT post!
Well I’ll leave my new goal setting for when I see you at your beautiful event in a few weeks.. but love this.. Our true selves are not cowed by the doubts and fears and second guessing. They are pure and clear and inspired and love playing bigger. That’s part of why those events are so much fun, is we get to dance with our true selves again.. and connect with other women while they are being their higher selves too.. The best.
Love you,
Lisa
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Michelle, preach on lady! Yes, I think that this is very true-I am headed to a retreat in a few days and I can feel it in myself, the itch to discard everything that is working and try something totally new-and not me, because I know who I am and where I stand. I take it as a sign that its time to go clothes shopping instead!
xo
“Big, hairy, audacious goals…” I love that! Yeah, I think we all plan to have left our dayjobs and run 6-digit independent businesses within moments of getting home from the conference. I think it’s great to dream big, but be kind to yourself and know that sometimes, just even a few steps ahead is better than no steps at all. Again, be strong, but kind to you, in your endeavors. Thank you for the reminder!
Amazingly true! Being unreasonable to reach our goals and attempt the impossible… Will definitely challenge us more to take bigger steps to achieve our plans. This is something new but the message it brings feels so right. Thank you. xoxo