The one thing that is really standing between you and entrepreneurial freedom

If you have ever been frustrated because you feel like you are just inches away from getting out from under your business, but just can’t seem to get there… then this week's edition is for you.?

There is a huge chasm between mediocre and good, and an equally large gap between good to great, but the difference between great and extraordinary is tiny, just 2mm.

This 2mm gap is where I live with my clients and where YOU will have the biggest ripple effects in your business.?

When it comes to getting out from under your business it generally isn’t huge shifts that make the difference, it is strategic, calculated, consistent 2mm shifts.?

And that first 2mm shift that is standing in the way between you and entrepreneurial freedom?

It’s what I call the entrepreneur existential crisis.

It’s the fear and uncertainty that the 3 pound mass between your ears creates when you think about stepping out of the day to day of your business.?

On one hand the idea of having more freedom, abundance, and impact without all the ‘doing’ seems so alluring, but on the other hand it fills you with unconscious dread because you are your business; or at least it feels that way.

You’ve spent years of blood, sweat, tears, and sacrifice building your business; it feels like a part of you.??

Like a limb that you would have to amputate if you actually got out from under the day to day leaving you with this hole of “who am I?”.?

Which isn’t that surprising when you know that more than 80% of business owners have never given much thought to what they are going to do with the free time that comes from getting out from under your business.??

They also haven’t thought about who they are going to be once they get out of the trenches.?

I liken this to coming back from war.? Who are you without the pressure, stress, chaos of battle??

The same is true for your business.? If you don’t get crystal clear on who you are OUTSIDE of your business then chances are you are going to be a POW for a long time to come.?

I will share one caveat… if you are building a lifestyle business rather than a legacy business you very well may love the idea of staying very involved and not removing yourself - that is a-okay - but I still want you to think about how you can spend your time in the business better.?

Where would you really thrive and get the most ROTI/ROI?

Here’s how to get some clarity on this now and outsmart that 3 pounds between your ears so your business, team, and people in your life will thank you later.?

• Take some time. ?This will be the most triggering but also the most rewarding. The truth is that rarely (if ever) is clarity found in the chaos of go-go-go … we need the sigh, the breath, the quiet of a downshift/pause to give our brains the space to answer.?
• Ask yourself if you sold your business tomorrow would you buy it?? This is a powerful question that can help you fine tune what needs to change to have it running like a sellable asset.?
• In that same vein, if you sold your business tomorrow, what have you always wanted to do or explore? ?Start making a list and start doing one or two of those things NOW.? I have found the most successful entrepreneurs do not rely on their business to be their whole world but have a dynamic and full life outside their business - plus this will inevitably help you with the transition and feeling wobbly about who you are.?
• Last but not least, decide what type of business owner you want to be (owner, leader, operator) and what type of business you are building (legacy vs lifestyle).? The clarity of knowing where you are really headed will make all the difference!?

That’s it for this weeks edition. I’d love to hear what 2mm shifts you’re making this week.

Until next time,

Lauren

p.s. There are a lot of fractional fill-in-the-blanks these days CMO, CFO, etc. but one of the most misunderstood and (IMO) under utilized is the role of fractional COO. Maybe you have seen fractional COOs before and wondered what they do, how to work with them, and if your business would benefit from one so next Thursday Jeffrey Provost and I are going to break it all down to help you understand the role of COO and what it could mean for your business. Come join us! You can join here.