How often are you catching yourself in your own BS beliefs?
This morning, I was looking for an old newsletter I’d written a few years ago on the topic of blocking beliefs. It began with:
An old chestnut that’s been coming up in mentoring this week is the blocking belief that “I can’t create something on X or Y because it’s been done before”
I had to laugh to myself and admit that since I wrote this (maybe 2.5 years ago) I’ve been guilty of falling for my own blocking beliefs.
I’ve told myself that ‘everyone’ is teaching course creation these days and I should probably focus on something else.I’ve had to follow my own advice!
Of course it’s been done. Your job (as I see it) is to say “yes, but not in my voice” and keep going.
Do you think the staff at Vogue sit down before every winter and say “oh bugger, the trench coat has already been photographed and written about too many times?”
I can’t imagine people at Vogue saying “bugger”, but the fashion industry is a good go-to for inspiration of you’re ever telling yourself there’s no room for your ideas.
In fact, having competition is a GOOD thing. It keeps things fresh, it keeps you clear on your unique voice, and it’s proof that it’s an idea that people will pay money for.
Here are two things that help me to keep going when I find myself caught up in “so and so is already offering this” talk:
Knowing that where there is an ability, there is a responsibility
It might sound braggy, but I can hand on heart say that I have knowledge in my head that could (and has) saved lives. Therapy, courses, books, teaching, podcast episodes, something I said in a media piece. I regularly get feedback that my words help people.
I’ve been more mindful about saving that feedback in a folder. It’s good to review it on tough days when you get the wobbles.
I’ve been revisiting Simon Sinek’s work on WHY lately. Refining what my big Why is for my business. I’m still working on the wording (if you’ve ever done this task you’ll know it’s hard!), but it’s something like:
To ignite people’s imagination about what’s possible so that they do more with their lives, without burning out
This work chose me. I’m an advocate/healer/communicator type of person. Translating concepts, telling and receiving stories with compassion and distilling big ideas is just what I am meant to do.
If other people are doing that too, then great! It doesn’t dilute my work or my why.
It’s not the content, it’s the process
A mentor once taught me that people primarily don’t buy your stuff for the content (what? No really). They buy your stuff for the transformation they imagine they will have working with you. Often, it’s about feeling that you are someone who believes in them.
My Grandmother had this phrase that she used a lot, which then got passed down to my mother and now here I am telling it to you – sometimes it’s the singer, not the song. Essentially, whatever concepts I’ve learned about mental health, motherhood and business are the same ones that other people teach and will continue to teach.
So, it’s not the content people are looking for, but the process in how the content is translated – your unique tone of voice, bad jokes, your personal point of view, experience, stories and results.
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel, just spin it around a bit. Look at the popularity of Triple J’s Like a Version covers. Find something you know well and spin it the way you spin it.
If you aren’t sure what your particular spin is yet, try this trick
Open your voice memo app. If you are braver, use the video option. Talk about your idea for course, book, app, coaching program, podcast or whatever it might be for 10 – 15 minutes. What are you trying to communicate? Don’t stress about the content too much, just talk and get words flowing.
Play it back and look for the spots where you are most ‘you’ – your passion comes through, you believe what you are saying. This is the place to come from when you create.
Once you’ve got the idea – don’t forget to take it to market and test it before you create anything!
