“You can’t leave a place you haven’t visited”
– Anonymous
In last week’s article, we looked at the first key to building a successful principles-based practice: It starts with you! https://www.jamiesmart.com/jst-75-the-spiritual-keys-to-a-profitable-principles-based-practice/ In this week’s article, I’m going to reveal your ideal starting point; your optimum “initial conditions” for building your practice.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve spoken to several people who have been struggling to leave their jobs and start a principles-based coaching business. In each case, this desire has been contaminated by the outside-in misunderstanding (the mistaken belief that our feelings are coming from something other than Thought in the moment). One of the most pernicious forms this misunderstanding can take when it comes to building a principles-based practice is this one: I’ll be happy / peaceful / contented / free / on-purpose once I have a successful practice. The specific forms this takes can vary, for instance:
– I’ll be free once I leave my job
– I’ll feel secure once I’m earning £X per month
– I’ll feel successful once I have Y paying clients
– I’ll be happy when I’m generating passive income of £Z
Of course, the false implication is that it’s not possible to be secure / free / happy / successful right where you are right now. And that’s a trap. Ironically, this is part of the very same misunderstanding these coaches are inspired to help others see through! Way back in the late 1990s, when I first started training as a coach, I was working as a programme manager in a large publishing company. I intuitively knew that I needed to develop my skills as a coach, and that I had a lot to learn before I handed in my notice, so…
– I did my best to do a good job and enjoy my work, such as it was
– I studied the things I would need to understand in order to build a business
– I took every opportunity I could find in my day-job to develop my skills as a trainer
By the time I got to the point of handing in my notice, I’d already coached numerous colleagues, run training courses, given talks and delivered team-building sessions. And while some of the courses and talks I’d delivered weren’t on the subjects I was passionate about, they were still opportunities for me to develop my skills at working with groups; skills which were going to come in handy later.
While I wasn’t crazy about my day-job, I often felt incredibly grateful to be in a situation where I could practice and learn the things I was going to need in the future; where I could start building my practice. And here’s where it gets interesting…
Wherever you are, you’re in a situation where you can start building your practice. The optimal conditions for building your practice are wherever you are right now, because they’re not physical; they’re psychological, emotional and spiritual.
When a person gets caught up in the outside-in misunderstanding, they get tunnel vision; it’s like they’ve got blinkers on, and it seems like opportunity is a distant land.
The moment you fall out of the misunderstanding and back into the present, you wake up to reality. And it turns out that being in reality is a land of opportunity; the very best place there is to start your practice, grow your practice and prosper.
Here’s something you might like to consider: what if you already are in the perfect circumstances to start creating what you’re here to create? What if the ideal opportunities for your own development, and to impact others, are already all around you? What if the only thing that’s been stopping you seeing that until now is a misunderstanding; the mistaken belief that your feelings are coming from something other than the principle of Thought taking form in the moment?
When you fall out of that misunderstanding and back into reality, you just may discover that the next step is right in front of you.
I'm looking forward to your input and feedback on this, so please post your comments on the blog. Thanks! If you want to learn more about how you can see through the outside-in misunderstanding, and start waking up to the principles behind clarity, you can explore the materials here at www.JamieSmart.com or read my book, the #1 bestseller CLARITY: Clear Mind, Better Performance, Bigger Results. or my new #1 bestseller The Little book of Clarity
To your increasing clarity!
Big love
Jamie
p.s Following the incredible success of the beta-test, I’m looking for a small group of very specific people for my next 'Project Glasswing' programme that will be launching in the next few weeks. Here’s what I’m looking for:
– You are a coach, therapist or change-worker (Eg. Sports coach, psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, business coach, bodyworker etc)
– You have at least one year’s experience of working with clients (either paid, pro-bono or both)
– You probably charge by the hour, but want use a “coaching package” model to increase your income & make it more consistent
– You have space in your practice to work with at least one longer term contract client, starting in June
– You’re an enthusiastic, friendly people-person
– You have a coachable spirit, and are willing to step out of your comfort zone if necessary, and
– You can keep a secret
If that’s you, then just send an email to info@jamiesmart.com, and let me know where you’re located and a little about yourself (if you don’t know what to tell me about, look at the list above for inspiration). Make the subject line “Project Glasswing”. I’ll be choosing people in the next couple of weeks. Talk to you soon! J