“I’m from Canada.”
I just LOVE saying those words when travelling in different countries.
I’m fiercely proud of Canada and grateful for the freedom and kindness of this expansive country.
A huge part of my heart is for California. Eleven years old the first time setting foot in that special place, I have lost count of the trips back since then.
California is the place where the biggest leaps in my business (and life) are borne. Each visit creates more and more learning in my life. The impact is exponential.
The last trip was almost two weeks with two professional development events: First, the live, three-day event “6-Figures on Your Terms” with Lisa Cherney and then a writing workshop “Writing in Motion” with Alexandra Franzen.
The icing on the cake was six days of sightseeing in San Francisco and Sonoma Wine Country. Yummy!
As I look back on the trip, a few things really stood out, lessons I think will resonate with you and your business.
Here they are, in no particular order:
1. Do a sneaker check wherever you are.
This is all about being in the moment. Wherever you are in the world – in your work space, with your kids, at the gym, out for dinner, at a professional development, etc. – take a look down and see where your sneakers are. Wherever they are, be there too. Have the fortitude to be there 100% in the moment.
2. Before every big leap is resistance.
One of my mentors, Henry Kimsey-House of Coaches Training Institute, likes to say there’s beauty on the other side of chaos. When you feel resistance or things feel messy, he says to rub your hands together and say, “Goody, goody… what’s here now?” Also, it’s natural to want to put a story on the resistance and try to figure it out. Before any leap, there is always resistance. Period. Another way to handle it is not to put a story on it and instead simply say out loud, “Isn’t that interesting?”
3. Good business means mindful spending.
I had six days to explore San Francisco. Usually I’ll stay near Union Square at the Powell Hotel. However, since this time I was traveling alone and staying for so long, I decided to stay at the USA Hostel, also near Union Street. Instead of being by myself in an expensive hotel room, I was surrounded by an international community of backpackers and plenty of well-organized tours and fun experiences. While I can afford to stay at a more expensive spot, intentionally staying at the hostel saved nearly $1,000 in accommodation expenses. Those funds can either be invested in a more strategic place in my business or simply kept on my bottom line.
4. Go slow to go fast.
One thing entrepreneurs need to juggle is taking time to reflect and envision the future while delivering service. You may feel there’s no time to slow down because you’ll lose money if you do. I realized the need to trust the inner knowing that I needed to stop and pause. It’s about going slow to go fast. Be conscious about where you’re going next. When things are moving so fast around you, the impact is you simply won’t see the juicy opportunities around you. It takes courage to go intentionally slow and do your work. The money you make will be much more meaningful when it’s earned doing what you love (and what you’re best at) with the people you really like.
5. Letting go is liberating.
At one point early in the trip, someone asked me this question, “What are you willing to let go of or get rid of to be congruent with who you really are?” This question is a zinger. And, this is exactly where the gold is! You’ll discover your own gold when you really look at this question and be real with yourself about what it means to you.
In my own business and life, I have a BIG vision for 2013. It’s exciting and scary, all wrapped into one. And, I know that if I keep doing certain things the way I am, my vision has no chance of actually happening.
I could put my head in the sand and pretend something magical will happen or I can answer that question and get real about what I’m saying “yes” to and even more importantly, what I’m saying “no” to. That “no” list is about 10 things. As I take action and free myself from each of them, space is opening up for my big vision to actually happen. And, that’s liberating.
Ahhhhh. California. Thank you for these lessons. I know many more are bubbling to the surface and will come out at the right time.
Canada, you will always be the country for me.
I have to tell you though, there’s a special place in my heart for California.
Let’s say I’m a Canadian California girl.
Until we meet again, California. I get to see you at least three times in 2013. If history is any kind of predictor of the future, it’s bound to be really good.
And, I’d love to know – my dear reader – what lesson resonated with you the most and why.
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{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Before any big leap is resistance always resonates for me. It doesn’t matter how many leaps we take, we still come up against those edges. What I love about going… goody goody is it gets us excited for what’s coming and helps us be with the chaos. There was a TV show in the UK called The Goodies.. they had a theme tune that went “Goody Goody Yum Yum”. So YES to feeling the chaos, noticing the resistance and jumping in anyway. Go Fearless Nadine Go for 2013 xx
Vanessa ~ I’m starting to think resistance is ever present because entrepreneurs – especially the rising entrepreneurs you help – are always leaping and coming up against edges. It makes me think business really is about being comfortable being uncomfortable and getting used to the feeling of resistance. There’s also something about not making a story out of the resistance and saying something like, “Isn’t that interesting?”
I loved ‘The Sneaker Check’. Living from the past or future is such a slippery slope. Thank you for sharing your lessons, and the reminder that our (my) greatest answer is right where I stand, and so is real and immediate power.
Hello Wendy! Great to see you here. I love what you learned here, that your greatest power and clarity comes from you, right where you stand. This will serve you (and your clients) in multiple ways. Great stuff! ~ n
Glad to hear you had a fantastic time in CA! I love living here because there is always something to be inspired by!
Charlotte ~ San Francisco is a fabulously delightful city. People there love to remember what matters and to reveal what they’re becoming with open curiosity.
Love this post! Your lessons learned are key – I see a theme of being mindful, present and open. Very important and so easy to lose sight of in the hustle and bustle or life, and running a business.
I am thrilled that you consider yourself a Canadian California girl, as I am now a New York California girl! As you know, I just relocated to NorCal after living in NY for the last 12 years (and most of my life). I LOVE it out here! There is an energy that is open, mindful, and present, while also being exciting, rejuvenating and exhilarating.
I loved spending time with you in San Fran. It was such a special treat! I can’t wait for you to come back in 2013. I hope NorCal is in your plans again. I’d love to show you my lovely little college town, Davis, and some more of the wine country.
Here’s to lessons already learned, and experiences waiting to happen!
~ Lisa
Lisa ~ It was so special to hang out with you for the afternoon in San Francisco. It feels like we’re sisters! In California, I could see those qualities of being mindful, present and open in the people and especially you! xo
Love #5 especially – I just did some business planning for 2013 where I wrote down the things I was most glad I’d let go of this year and the things I’d like to let go of going into the next. So liberating.
And, such a lovely surprise to meet you in LA!
Erin ~ I’m right there with you. I have a “not doing anymore” list and am working my way through it. Everytime one gets crossed off, I feel a sense of space. I’m excited to see what your space opens up for you. Enjoy the holiday season and all the best in 2013!!
Sounds like you had a wonderful trip. I love reading your articles! The mention of sneakers, resistence, leaping, and letting go in your 5 lessons took me back to the playground and the big high metal slides that sat as a challenge to my courage. In the moment – as kids always are – starting at the bottom, looking way up at the steep stairs, taking time to climb each step consciously, reaching for the handle, pulling myself to the top and taking that last step into space, standing, taking a breath as I look down at the long shiny silver slide, excited, anxious, (oh goody!) then letting go and enjoying the ride – feeling the path of least resistance. What a thrill! I’m doing THAT again. Over and over, embracing the resistence then joy. It never loses the thrill. This deep memory invites me to consider, what happens when I embrace the ups and downs of my work as play rather than something to get used to? Nothing wrong with being anxious or resistent if joy is on the other side! It’s what makes it all worthwhile. Thanks for the lesson Nadine. Cheers!
Martina, ooooh la la! Your business is like a big playground. Every day you get to play. This is incredibly memorable. Thank you for sharing. ~ n
Great post Nadine and so refreshing from the plan, plan, plan theme at this time of year.
THE question is indeed very challenging and yet I agree with you it is very true. Everything is about balance so yes to be able to welcome something (whatever it is) in your life, you automatically need to let go of something. That’s something I like to do.
Here is my routine, when I’m about to launch a new project, I clean up the house, I mean in terms of getting rid of old things or items we don’t use anymore, I feel the urge to physically make room for what I want to see happening in another area of my life, be my business.
Turmoil is also part of the game. For some weird reason, each time I’m about to step into the next level I have to go through hell, it means that change is coming and of course somewhere I feel like I need to fight it even if I’m not aware of it. On the other side, with time you learn to recognize these emotions and you fight less and less so you have the energy to welcome the great and positive changes that you want in your life. And at some point you’ll look for these challenging moments.
Thank you for a very ‘close to heart’ post.