How Much Is Enough?

I had a conversation the other day with a client of mine. He has spent the last few years launching new businesses, shifting to new markets in his existing business, and anything else that would let him scale more. None of them really worked and he's lost thousands of dollars and tons of time working on them.

We talked at length about the problem and it came down to this: how much was enough?

Initially, the drive to scale was about feeling successful. He wanted to be a Titan of industry because he liked the idea of the identity. But when we drilled down, he just wanted to feel good enough. So last year we worked on that. And now that he has an internal sense of good enough, we could look at what else was underneath the drive to scale.

Financial security was the next bastion. But this past year, he bought a house and he got married the year before, and he has money put aside for a rainy day. So when we looked at it with a critical eye, there was plenty of security.

So then, the question I asked was: how much is enough? How much did he need to have a great life? When asked in this perspective, it became clear that all he needed was 12 ongoing monthly clients. Just 12. Think about that for a moment.

How would you feel if you discovered that this was all you needed?

Various surveys and market research indicate that the average small business consultant or service provider typically aims to secure 10 to 20 ongoing clients to maintain a stable income. That's all.

We don't all have to become mega-companies. If you are doing high-ticket sales, you can simply shoot for 10-20 clients ongoing.

"But what will I do with the rest of my time" You ask? This is where the toxicity of the US mindset kicks in. We think that we're leaving money on the table if we're not working more and optimizing our incomes. But no. That's not the answer to that question you just asked.

The answer is: live your life. Your business isn't your life - even if it's your passion. It's still just your business. Your life is about the connections that you make with others, the love you give and receive in the world, the people whose lives you touch (yes, I know your business does this too, we're not talking about business right now).

Research and expert opinions suggest that the optimal number of work hours per day for productivity and well-being is around 5 to 6 hours. That's just 25-30 hours per week. What if you decided today that you were going to live into that model? What would you have to change about the way you do things?

And what would you do with the extra time off? I often talk with clients who don't know what to do when they aren't working. Brainstorming ideas, asking friends and family what they do, Googling ideas are all good ways to have some motivation to take down time. If you don't have a plan for what to do with your extra time, I promise you'll end up working again. So make a plan.

Back to my client. He has accepted that he needs to stop looking for the next big thing and just focus on getting those 12 clients. And his stress levels have already gone down. He talks about his time at the tennis courts now and the walks he takes with his wife. And these are very good things.

Kelle Sparta is a spiritual and business coach for spiritual coaches, teachers, healers, and practitioners. She helps her clients find perspective, reach deeper levels of spiritual fulfillment, expand their spiritual skillset, and speak more clearly to their audiences. She is the founder of The Sacred Power and Purpose Mystery School and the Spiritual Coach Certification program. Find out more about her and her services at www.SpiritualCoachCertification.us